I am broken.
You are broken.
We are all living in the brokenness that threatens to consume us every day. It is a cry of sadness that is always there. It never stops. We have someone stronger than that though. We have the King, who came to give us life and give it to the fullest.
There are so many who are broken but have taken steps to seek God. I have found more and more how broken I am. And in comparison to some, my life has been a cake walk.
I have much compassion for the people who live in their brokenness every single day. I honestly don't know what that's like. I do know that as Christ followers, we are called to love the broken. To come to their aide. Are you doing that?
If you are broken, sad or alone, please ask for help. Don't keep it to yourself. You don't have to handle it on your own. It is not your burden to carry alone.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Lavishing Grace
Passionately moved.
This is the awesome way that God moves people. He knows I'm passionate. He knows exactly how to change my perspective. He knows what I need, when I need it and how much I need. He is my God. My king. My Savior. My direction.
I was telling the girls at Bible study how directionless I have felt for a number of months. But now, in this moment, I have direction. I've always had purpose. Now I have directional purpose. I have seriously screamed with joy multiple times because of this fact. How long has it been? How many times have I prayed I would feel this?
Yet, a warning comes. A warning that God has spoken to my heart so many times. Rest in me.
What, Lord?
Rest in me. I gave you direction, but I want you to continue to let me direct you.
Okay, God. Don't cling to my direction? Cling only to you?
Yup, good job, Bre. :)
This year is a year filled with a pursuit of justice.
Justice.
There is human trafficking, slavery, brokenness, homelessness, poverty and so much ore going on in this world. What are YOU doing about it? As Christians, we are called to look after the poor and widows. Not only that, but we are called to see justice be served. How can we sit idly by and do nothing when there is so much sadness all around us?!?
I was talking to my mentor, Jen, this past week and she told me something I never realized. The one thing that is always true about me is my need to see justice. Always. That's why I have wanted to go into law. That is why I can't stand it when people are treated unfairly. That is why I have worked in politics. Why did I not put it together sooner? Why did God not show me this truth years ago? He had a reason for it. I needed to hear it now. Because it has pushed me to do something about it.
This weekend I was told by four different people how they could totally see me running a non-profit about fighting for justice. Four people. What?!? Yeah, I could totally see that.
Grace.
This week, I spoke on grace. I had prepared well. But that night came and I was terrified I would say something wrong. My big brother, Lawrence, told me that it wasn't about what I said. He told me to just let God do the talking. Easy as pie.
I felt unworthy. But God so lovingly lavished his grace upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness."
Are you walking in his grace?
A few months back, I was talking to my mom about this very subject. She asked me if I believed that God would love me the same if I sat on my bum the rest of my life. In other words, did I think God would love me even if I did NOTHING for him for the rest of my life. My answer was no.
Now, I wholeheartedly would tell you that if you did nothing for the rest of your life for Him, He would love you. Is that the right way to live according to the Bible? No, not in my opinion. That is what living in grace looks like.
This is the awesome way that God moves people. He knows I'm passionate. He knows exactly how to change my perspective. He knows what I need, when I need it and how much I need. He is my God. My king. My Savior. My direction.
I was telling the girls at Bible study how directionless I have felt for a number of months. But now, in this moment, I have direction. I've always had purpose. Now I have directional purpose. I have seriously screamed with joy multiple times because of this fact. How long has it been? How many times have I prayed I would feel this?
Yet, a warning comes. A warning that God has spoken to my heart so many times. Rest in me.
What, Lord?
Rest in me. I gave you direction, but I want you to continue to let me direct you.
Okay, God. Don't cling to my direction? Cling only to you?
Yup, good job, Bre. :)
This year is a year filled with a pursuit of justice.
Justice.
There is human trafficking, slavery, brokenness, homelessness, poverty and so much ore going on in this world. What are YOU doing about it? As Christians, we are called to look after the poor and widows. Not only that, but we are called to see justice be served. How can we sit idly by and do nothing when there is so much sadness all around us?!?
I was talking to my mentor, Jen, this past week and she told me something I never realized. The one thing that is always true about me is my need to see justice. Always. That's why I have wanted to go into law. That is why I can't stand it when people are treated unfairly. That is why I have worked in politics. Why did I not put it together sooner? Why did God not show me this truth years ago? He had a reason for it. I needed to hear it now. Because it has pushed me to do something about it.
This weekend I was told by four different people how they could totally see me running a non-profit about fighting for justice. Four people. What?!? Yeah, I could totally see that.
Grace.
This week, I spoke on grace. I had prepared well. But that night came and I was terrified I would say something wrong. My big brother, Lawrence, told me that it wasn't about what I said. He told me to just let God do the talking. Easy as pie.
I felt unworthy. But God so lovingly lavished his grace upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness."
Are you walking in his grace?
A few months back, I was talking to my mom about this very subject. She asked me if I believed that God would love me the same if I sat on my bum the rest of my life. In other words, did I think God would love me even if I did NOTHING for him for the rest of my life. My answer was no.
Now, I wholeheartedly would tell you that if you did nothing for the rest of your life for Him, He would love you. Is that the right way to live according to the Bible? No, not in my opinion. That is what living in grace looks like.
Live boldly,
and
passionately.
Live in His grace.
[Lavish His grace on others]
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Lower Case i
i started school last Thursday. My classes are
PAF311: Leadership and Change
ENG311: Persuasive Writing
CRJ302: Research Methods
CRJ308: Advanced Criminological Theory
CRJ305: Gender, Crime and Criminal Justice
i'm super excited about all of them. Mostly, cause i like learning. i'm not a genius or anything extraordinary when it comes to school, but i truly enjoy it. i work hard.
Anyways, i started reading my leadership book and within the first chapter it spoke about authenticity. It talks about how crucial it is to be authentic to be a good leader. i was truly shocked when i read that because a lot of times authenticity isn't referred to in secular society. Of course, we as Christians talk about it, but it's a "Christiany" word. Unfortunately, it is not even talked about that much in our Christian society.
But a SECULAR COLLEGE TEXTBOOK just told me how important it is to be authentic and genuine.
One of my projects a couple years ago was to read the gospels. i thought it would really interesting to read the different perspectives of Jesus' life. So i did.
What struck me the most was how Jesus lived. He was funny, and sarcastic. He loved and cherished. But what stood out to me the most was that he was authentic and real. It never talks about how he was so different in private and then put on a face for the rest of the world.
The way that we live is a reflection of Christ. If you recorded the way that most people in the world live nowadays, it would go something like this...
"Susie spoke so many encouraging words to people. She talked about her future plans with confidence and boldness. She understood what it meant to serve people. But when Susie went home, she spoke to her siblings with contempt because she was the favorite. She got away with beating up with her little sisters if they looked at her the wrong way. She didn't read her Bible or pray. She was seclusive and rude."
That is just an example. That is also how most people have chosen to live. And it's exhausting. i know, i've been there. Not to such an extreme, but usually it's not that extreme. Sometimes it's the small things that we choose to ignore. Are you being like Susie?
Friends, God has given us such an opportunity to live our lives for him. i have chosen to live the same way in private and public. It's not sugar coated, it is real. i'm loud and easily excited. i'm encouraging and sarcastic. i love seeing the little joys in life. But i need sleep, and if i don't have it, i'm quieter. i love talking about deep things. i love hearing about people's stories. And i'm human. The one biggest joy in my life is my Savior. Because it's not about me. It's about Christ.
He lived his life so that we could live ours for him. If you are living a life like Susie, i want to encourage you to stop. Because our lives are not about us, they are about Christ. He didn't give us life to talk about ourselves as the capital i. He wants us to live as the lower case i. Christ calls us to sacrifice who we are and live for him. That's why all of the i's in this post have been lower case. It's not about me. It's about him. It's about giving the glory to God. Nothing is more rewarding then living life for the Creator of the Universe.
PAF311: Leadership and Change
ENG311: Persuasive Writing
CRJ302: Research Methods
CRJ308: Advanced Criminological Theory
CRJ305: Gender, Crime and Criminal Justice
i'm super excited about all of them. Mostly, cause i like learning. i'm not a genius or anything extraordinary when it comes to school, but i truly enjoy it. i work hard.
Anyways, i started reading my leadership book and within the first chapter it spoke about authenticity. It talks about how crucial it is to be authentic to be a good leader. i was truly shocked when i read that because a lot of times authenticity isn't referred to in secular society. Of course, we as Christians talk about it, but it's a "Christiany" word. Unfortunately, it is not even talked about that much in our Christian society.
But a SECULAR COLLEGE TEXTBOOK just told me how important it is to be authentic and genuine.
One of my projects a couple years ago was to read the gospels. i thought it would really interesting to read the different perspectives of Jesus' life. So i did.
What struck me the most was how Jesus lived. He was funny, and sarcastic. He loved and cherished. But what stood out to me the most was that he was authentic and real. It never talks about how he was so different in private and then put on a face for the rest of the world.
The way that we live is a reflection of Christ. If you recorded the way that most people in the world live nowadays, it would go something like this...
"Susie spoke so many encouraging words to people. She talked about her future plans with confidence and boldness. She understood what it meant to serve people. But when Susie went home, she spoke to her siblings with contempt because she was the favorite. She got away with beating up with her little sisters if they looked at her the wrong way. She didn't read her Bible or pray. She was seclusive and rude."
That is just an example. That is also how most people have chosen to live. And it's exhausting. i know, i've been there. Not to such an extreme, but usually it's not that extreme. Sometimes it's the small things that we choose to ignore. Are you being like Susie?
Friends, God has given us such an opportunity to live our lives for him. i have chosen to live the same way in private and public. It's not sugar coated, it is real. i'm loud and easily excited. i'm encouraging and sarcastic. i love seeing the little joys in life. But i need sleep, and if i don't have it, i'm quieter. i love talking about deep things. i love hearing about people's stories. And i'm human. The one biggest joy in my life is my Savior. Because it's not about me. It's about Christ.
He lived his life so that we could live ours for him. If you are living a life like Susie, i want to encourage you to stop. Because our lives are not about us, they are about Christ. He didn't give us life to talk about ourselves as the capital i. He wants us to live as the lower case i. Christ calls us to sacrifice who we are and live for him. That's why all of the i's in this post have been lower case. It's not about me. It's about him. It's about giving the glory to God. Nothing is more rewarding then living life for the Creator of the Universe.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)