I sat there. High above the water. The altitude didn't bother me, He is was so there. I blinked and stared trying to shake the last remaining bits of darkness. The cool, crisp air hit my cheeks, I looked up and smiled. Now I was at the top. After a few years of struggling and valley walking, He had faithfully continued to carry me to the top of this mountain. Even when I fought Him along the way, He still held fast and tight, whispering messages of love into my ear. And so, because of Him, here I am. Looking around, on the horizon I saw the light. Oh, the Light! It's been years since this heart of mine has walked fully in the Light of Salvation Himself. I blinked, and blinked, and blinked...trying to prepare for what I knew would be a shock to the eyes of my heart because they had been in darkness so long. Nothing could prepare me for what was coming. The Light. After a few minutes, the beauty of Him exploded across the horizon of my heart. The oranges and yellows filled the sky, reflecting on the water below. I stood to my feet, barely able to contain myself. I looked at the view the Light was revealing to me. This wasn't the first time I had seen it, but it's been such a long time, it's almost as if it's the first time. On the top of this mountain, I look as He holds me, the ocean is below. I can only see the surface. He reminds me of the depths of His love, and His unfathomable faithfulness. I smiled. At Him. With Him. Oh gosh, He is so beautiful.
Selah.
Through all of this, He reminded me that soon, none of these struggles will matter. The Light that my heart saw exploding across it's horizon is only a tiny tidbit of what is to come. We will be with Him forever and ever and ever and ever. We've not even scratched the surface. There is no one like our God.
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18
Child of God, keep pressing on. He WILL be faithful to bring you up this mountain.
The Light is coming.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Established.
"In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you." Isaiah 54:14
Look at this promise. Isn't it awesome? Like, just looking at it straight up at face value, it's absolutely beautiful. Jesus promises that we will be established in righteousness, and that we will have nothing to fear. This, in and of itself, is a miracle of God. When you really consider who we are, and then this promise of righteousness, it's absolutely beautiful and scandalous. So...let's dig deeper. :)
I read this today and decided that I would look up the word established. According to dictionary.com, this is the definition:
Establish-verb-
1.) to bring into being
2.) to settle, as in a position
3.) to cause to be accepted
4.) to prove
Okay, one at a time here...firstly...
1.) To bring into being.
The word established...to bring into being. Being established in His righteousness. His very righteousness brought us into being. Here's the proof:
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ." Colossians 2:13
We were dead. Through His righteousness, He brought us into being. He made us alive! Crazy, right? It only gets better. Now on to number two...
2.) to settle, as in a position
To be established in His righteousness is to be settled. When I saw the word settled, I decided I'd look it up too. I wrote down a few of the meanings in my journal. Here they are: to quiet or calm, to take up residence, to come to rest, to sink gradually. Because of His righteousness, He takes up residence in us. He calms and quiets us. He brings us rest. And you know, it may take time for it all to sink gradually in...but it will sink in. Because of what Jesus has done. Not only that, but because of the righteousness of Christ, we have a position at His table. We beggars have been invited to come to His banquet table and feast. All because of Him. And what He has done.
3.) to cause to be accepted
Because of the righteous blood of Jesus being shed on the cross, He has caused us to be ACCEPTED in the eyes of the Father! This blows my mind. Holy God, Creator God...He accepts us because of His Son, Jesus.
Last, but certainly not least (this one is my favorite...)
4.) to prove
Because of what Jesus has done, because He has provided righteousness....
Me and you....
WE HAVE NOTHING TO PROVE!
Absolutely nothing. You know why? Because Jesus has already proven everything there is to prove by His death on the cross and His resurrection.
What would happen if we livedlike this was true? It is true. So, there is no like and was. The new question is:
What would happen if we live this? This Truth. Truth that is steadfast and solid. Never to be shaken. You and I are established in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (that is, if you have accepted Jesus to be your Lord and Savior). I propose that if we really believed this--everything would be different. We would learn to be totally satisfied in Him. Understanding that He is enough. More than enough. We would wait in hope for Him instead of trying to jump ahead of His plan. Everything would be different.
So stands the challenge. Will we live established in the righteousness of Christ Jesus?
Remember:
"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
Isn't He beautiful?
Look at this promise. Isn't it awesome? Like, just looking at it straight up at face value, it's absolutely beautiful. Jesus promises that we will be established in righteousness, and that we will have nothing to fear. This, in and of itself, is a miracle of God. When you really consider who we are, and then this promise of righteousness, it's absolutely beautiful and scandalous. So...let's dig deeper. :)
I read this today and decided that I would look up the word established. According to dictionary.com, this is the definition:
Establish-verb-
1.) to bring into being
2.) to settle, as in a position
3.) to cause to be accepted
4.) to prove
Okay, one at a time here...firstly...
1.) To bring into being.
The word established...to bring into being. Being established in His righteousness. His very righteousness brought us into being. Here's the proof:
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ." Colossians 2:13
We were dead. Through His righteousness, He brought us into being. He made us alive! Crazy, right? It only gets better. Now on to number two...
2.) to settle, as in a position
To be established in His righteousness is to be settled. When I saw the word settled, I decided I'd look it up too. I wrote down a few of the meanings in my journal. Here they are: to quiet or calm, to take up residence, to come to rest, to sink gradually. Because of His righteousness, He takes up residence in us. He calms and quiets us. He brings us rest. And you know, it may take time for it all to sink gradually in...but it will sink in. Because of what Jesus has done. Not only that, but because of the righteousness of Christ, we have a position at His table. We beggars have been invited to come to His banquet table and feast. All because of Him. And what He has done.
3.) to cause to be accepted
Because of the righteous blood of Jesus being shed on the cross, He has caused us to be ACCEPTED in the eyes of the Father! This blows my mind. Holy God, Creator God...He accepts us because of His Son, Jesus.
Last, but certainly not least (this one is my favorite...)
4.) to prove
Because of what Jesus has done, because He has provided righteousness....
Me and you....
WE HAVE NOTHING TO PROVE!
Absolutely nothing. You know why? Because Jesus has already proven everything there is to prove by His death on the cross and His resurrection.
What would happen if we lived
What would happen if we live this? This Truth. Truth that is steadfast and solid. Never to be shaken. You and I are established in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (that is, if you have accepted Jesus to be your Lord and Savior). I propose that if we really believed this--everything would be different. We would learn to be totally satisfied in Him. Understanding that He is enough. More than enough. We would wait in hope for Him instead of trying to jump ahead of His plan. Everything would be different.
So stands the challenge. Will we live established in the righteousness of Christ Jesus?
Remember:
"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
Isn't He beautiful?
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Run Path.
Hey y'all.
It's only been 8 months since I've blogged last. Haha. I just feel like writing tonight. Should I be doing homework instead? Probably so. But don't worry, I'm gonna get it done. :)
Where to begin? First off, can I just tell you how faithful Jesus is? REALLY faithful. He's so good. I must say that He is beginning to lead me down a path I don't want to go down, for several reasons. Yet, turning my feet in the direction of that path is bringing so much satisfaction. Even if I am scared out of my mind to go down said path. He keeps reminding me that He'll hold my hand. That He never leaves. Even on this path. And so, I want to run. Run down this path. He's brought so much freedom into this broken heart of mine. And because of what He has done, I WILL run after Him. Down this path. Funny, how I can want to do something so badly, yet not want to do it.
Today, my head and heart have been in a million different places. It's the eve of my 19th birthday (it's so weird to think that in about an hour and half, I'll no longer be 18). I've thought a lot today about my Mom. Sometimes I really miss her. This is one of the times when I think about her way more than usual. And, I let myself grieve all over again. Enter Jesus. Who never left in the first place. Cause He's good. And He loves. Constantly, He shows me how He has filled that place where my Mom would be. With other people. With Himself. The promise that He sets the lonely in families is so true. He is a Father to the fatherless. He is faithful to every promise He has made.
Yeah, you guys, this blog is really random. But, it feels good to write. Perhaps I'll be able to focus on my homework now. :)
Jesus is beautiful,
Miranda
It's only been 8 months since I've blogged last. Haha. I just feel like writing tonight. Should I be doing homework instead? Probably so. But don't worry, I'm gonna get it done. :)
Where to begin? First off, can I just tell you how faithful Jesus is? REALLY faithful. He's so good. I must say that He is beginning to lead me down a path I don't want to go down, for several reasons. Yet, turning my feet in the direction of that path is bringing so much satisfaction. Even if I am scared out of my mind to go down said path. He keeps reminding me that He'll hold my hand. That He never leaves. Even on this path. And so, I want to run. Run down this path. He's brought so much freedom into this broken heart of mine. And because of what He has done, I WILL run after Him. Down this path. Funny, how I can want to do something so badly, yet not want to do it.
Today, my head and heart have been in a million different places. It's the eve of my 19th birthday (it's so weird to think that in about an hour and half, I'll no longer be 18). I've thought a lot today about my Mom. Sometimes I really miss her. This is one of the times when I think about her way more than usual. And, I let myself grieve all over again. Enter Jesus. Who never left in the first place. Cause He's good. And He loves. Constantly, He shows me how He has filled that place where my Mom would be. With other people. With Himself. The promise that He sets the lonely in families is so true. He is a Father to the fatherless. He is faithful to every promise He has made.
Yeah, you guys, this blog is really random. But, it feels good to write. Perhaps I'll be able to focus on my homework now. :)
Jesus is beautiful,
Miranda
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