Learning to live for HIS glory

In church this morning we talked about pornography.  Heavy stuff.  However, I came out of church encouraged and thankful.  Almost in tears because of how overwhelmed I was (and still am) by the grace of God! I was reminded of this post from back in November:  Thoughts of a Recovering Addict .  I won't tell the story again (you can read it), but Pastor Keith hit the nail on the head when he said, "A woman needs to feel something, and so her porn might be in words that touch her emotionally--romance novels that portray the ideals of new love, depicting a woman being swept off her feet by a hero."    I applaud him for saying that, because ...That's my story... And I know I wouldn't be where I am today if God had not, in His marvelous grace, provided me with a wake up call like the one Pastor Keith offered this morning. Because, I can tell you right now, it's a sneaky addiction.  It doesn't look that wrong!  It's just a book (or to be ...

Be gracious to me,  O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You;  And in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge Until destruction passes by. I will cry to God Most High,  To God who accomplishes all things for me. ~Psalm 57:1-2 O You who hear prayer, To You all men come . . . By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea. ~Psalm 65:2&5 Knees bent.  Head bowed.  Life surrendered.  Eyes lifted up to the Gracious One.  Refuge is found there.  Life.  Peace.  Strength. On My Knees by Jaci Velasquez Lord, remind me.

I'm a recovering addict.  And I suspect those of you reading this are either on the caught up in or trying to get out of side of an addiction.  We're all seeking meaning in life.  Joy.  Hope.  Peace. Love. Problem is, we live in a messed up, twisted, evil world.  It can't deliver on any of those desires.  Neither can anything in it. Where do you run to escape?  When life is cruel, hard, hurts . . . ?  Where do you let your mind go when you just need to "get away"--when you're craving peace?   I know my drug of choice.  It's getting caught up in the dream world of fiction.  Letting myself believe, if only for the hour it takes to devour a book, that the world can be a much more perfect place.  Getting wrapped up in the life of some imaginary person so that I don't have to face the struggles and problems in mine.   For years, I didn't recognize my addiction for what it was.  After all, wasn't it normal for...

Sometimes another's words say it best . . . "But by HIS DOING you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption."  ~1 Corinthians 1:30 "Dear souls!  How little they know that the abiding in Christ is just meant for the weak, and so beautifully suited to their feebleness.  It is not the doing of some great thing, and does not demand that we first lead a very holy and devoted life.  No, it is simply weakness entrusting itself to a Mighty One to be kept--the unfaithful one casting self on One who is altogether trustworthy and true.  Abiding in Him is not a work that we have to do as the condition for enjoying His salvation, but a consenting to let Him do all for us, and in us, and through us.  It is a work He does for us--the fruit and the power of His redeeming love.  Our part is simply to yield, to trust . . ." ~Andrew Murray "Abide in Me and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fr...

"Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight: for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.  But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;" ~Romans 3:20-24 While reading this passage during my time with God the other day I was freshly struck by the fact that my righteousness and justification are a gift from God.  Doing works of the Law does nothing to make me justified in His sight: the only thing that the Law is there for is to show me that I sin.  However, in God's eyes, even though I don't measure up to the Law, I am righteous and perfect.  Why?  Because of my faith in Jesus.  That faith mea...

I was listening to Lamb of God by Nicole C.  Mullen today . . . and all of a sudden this thought hit me.  I mean, all my life I've heard the songs, poems, stories, etc. that talk about our having nothing to give God--just ourselves.  But today I really thought about that . . . Why wouldn't I be willing to give Him all of me?  All my hopes, all my dreams, all my time, all my life?  After all, He gave His all for me, and at that point in time I was His enemy!  I have it so much easier than Jesus did!  All that He asks of me is that I give all of myself over to the One who loves me more than even I can imagine.  All He asks is that I love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).  It's just a response on my part, He loved me when I hated Him! So why do I find this so hard . . . this idea of surrendering?  Because it is.  Because it grates against my sin nature. But I have a perfect example, One who went thr...

As I was reading back over this blog today, I was convicted of how much I really should be spending more time with God.  Somehow, I don't think I'll ever be spending enough time with Him!  It's interesting how that kind of ties into what I've been learning in my discipleship counseling class this week.  On the forums we were talking about how when we view God in the right way (and we're continually learning more and more how to do that) it helps us to view ourselves in the right way.  Isn't that a cool thought?  As we seek God, grow closer to Him, and give ourselves to Him as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1), we discover more not just of who He is, but of who we are.  That's such a beautiful picture. It makes me think of a quote I love from C.S. Lewis , "The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become--because He made us.  He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be . . . It is when I turn to Christ, when...

So the other night, my family and I watched "Facing the Giants" again for the first time in a while.  It really challenged me again.  That movie is just soooo good!  I feel like my faith is challenged every time I watch it, and trust me, I've watched it a lot! A couple things that really stick out to me from it . . . This song, it plays while Brooke is in the doctors office, wrestling with whether or not she will still love God if He never gives her children.  That scene has always been powerful to me, and I've always loved the song, so I thought I'd see if I could find it, and when I did I loved it even more!  :) Here are the words: "The secret of life is letting go The secret of love is letting it show In all that I do, in all that I say Right here in this moment The power of prayer Is in a humble cry The power of change Is in giving my life And laying down Down at your feet Right here in this moment Take my heart, take my soul I surren...