A few weeks ago I spent the afternoon in an indoor rock climbing excursion. Being my third time, I knew what I was getting myself into. Although it may look quite simple, rock climbing is actually physically taxing and a somewhat intricate process to make everything run smoothly. If you find yourself with enough strength and finesse to pull your full body weight from knob to knob and ledge to ledge, you can take a few moments to catch your breath and revel in glory at the summit. But then of course, there is the whole business of getting back down. Looking below, you find that you are much higher up than you'd realized, and it sinks in that your descent rests in the hands of your climbing partner. Giving him or her the signal, you simply let go and drop away from the wall trusting that the equipment and instruction from the employees will work as planned. Bit by bit, your climbing partner works the cables to return you to the ground below. It's really not all that difficult, but it's a great deal easier talking about it than actually letting go and trusting when you're yards above held safely by only a few ropes, pulleys, and cables. You have to let loose, have faith, and let them take care of the rest.
This act of faithfully letting go even when it's ridiculously scary and difficult reminds me of a passage of Scripture that has repeatedly come before me in the past few months. I'm a firm believer that God brings certain verses before us for a reason, so when the story of Abraham and Isaac repeated in my life, I had to stop and ponder what He was revealing to me through it. In particular, I've been very impacted by the story of Abraham's willingness to offer his only son Isaac as a sacrifice when instructed to do so by God. At first glance, I have to admit that it seems a bit bizarre. Child sacrifice is something I connect to pagan cultures, not a story of great faith. Nonetheless, we must look deeper to see what is really happening in this story. In Timothy Keller's book Counterfeit Gods, he addresses this story in regards to idols of our hearts. For many years, Abraham and his wife Sarah had longed for a child. In their old age when they were convinced that it would be impossible to conceive, God provided them with a baby boy who they named Isaac. Keller posits, then, that after all of these years of yearning, Isaac would have held a place of dearest importance in the heart of his servant Abraham. This is important to note, because we then can truly appreciate Abraham's response.
Let's take a look at Genesis 22. Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about. (Genesis 22: 1-2) Can you imagine? I have trouble truly wrapping my head around that one. God wasn't asking him to inconvenience himself just a little bit. He was asking him to have faith and let loose of his child. And not just his child, the son for whom he and his wife Sarah had waited decades! So what does Abraham do? He and Isaac load up and obey. Following what God has directed, Abraham takes Isaac and upon arrival he binds him to the alter to sacrifice him. I seriously commend Abraham because this is the moment where, if I hadn't yet, I'd be struggling. Maybe a really long pause, a prayer offered up asking for clarification. But no, Abraham, our man of great faith obeys. Just as Isaac was about to be sacrificed in obedience, an "angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." (Genesis 22: 11-12)
There is so much that we can learn from this story. First, I see that God will ask us to have faith and let loose of those things which are dearest in our hearts. Not just the things we sort of like, but those which perhaps we've longed for and cherish. And like Abraham, He wants us to move forward and obey unswervingly and without question, having faith that God knows best. But an even more incredible insight and takeaway from this story is the connection to the Gospel. I absolutely love how God, the most creative and beautiful author, wove such intricacies and connections from the very first book of the Bible to the last. In reflecting upon the story of Abraham and Isaac in her book The Names of God, Marilyn Hickey notes that when God sent an angel to keep him from killing Isaac, God also provided an animal stuck in the thicket to be used as the sacrifice.....and this is just a foreshadowing of what He would do in sending Jesus to die on the cross in our stead! Isn't that beautiful? Here is what I'm seeing: God asked something really huge and quite painful of Abraham, to have faith and to offer up his beloved son. While we can say this seems harsh, this is exactly what God did in sending Jesus. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Although Isaac was spared, Christ was not. God loved you and I so incredible much that He had a plan ready, even all the way back in Genesis, to redeem His children. Christ was able to live a sinless life that was impossible for every human, He died upon the cross taking the full wrath and judgment upon Himself that our sins rightfully deserved, and He defeated death and rose again. Because of His great sacrifice, we are offered forgiveness, grace, and His righteousness. Wow!
This story of Abraham's faith is really quite incredible and spurs me on to have greater faith and obedience in trusting God and letting go when He commands. But it's not the story of Abraham that gives me the power to do so. Looking down from the top when only a few cables, pulleys, and ropes keep me safe, I see Christ standing at the bottom with His hands firmly on the ropes. "Cassie, just push off and let go. I've got you, and I'll bring you safely to me." That is exactly what gives me unending confidence and hope as over and over again I strive to let loose, have faith, and let Him do the rest.
1.27.2013
1.23.2013
Beggars Can't Be Choosers
These past few weeks have been icy cold. It's that kind of cold that cuts you to the core and makes you chilled to the bone. It pulls at my heart to think of anyone without a home this winter forced to face the elements. As I drove to meet a friend for coffee yesterday, I passed a man at a nearby exit ramp holding a cardboard sign. As he hobbled along next to a line of cars, I can only imagine that he was asking, perhaps even begging, that those with would spare a bit for one without. Despite the physical comforts in my own life, it's humbling to realize that I once was a beggar myself and so were you. In fact, some of you may still be in this condition without realizing it. Before any Christian receives Christ as their Lord and Savior, that is in essence all we really are: beggars seeking to fill a deep need within. We may search far and wide, within ourselves and with those around us, but we find ourselves continually empty-handed. The things of this world simply do not satisfy. But when you lay it all down at the cross surrendering your life, your desires, your everything to Christ, he fills our begging hands to overflowing. We no longer need look elsewhere to fulfill our desires, hopes, and dreams for we know that His plans and path for our lives are leading us toward our greatest good in Him.
Although we can renounce our status as beggars and embrace our membership in God's own family, it's important to keep in mind from whence we came. Beggars can't be choosers the old adage says, and yet I'm sorry to say that I myself and many other believers can become quite choosy and selective in their walk of faith. Many will seek to conform God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to their own image, to place God into a small mold or box. Be wary of such an attitude, for we were made in His image and not the other way around. We are a mere reflection of His awesome glory. He is so much greater, so much more powerful, so much more holy and awe inspiring than I can even fathom or understand. I'm also embarrassed to admit my own failings in often looking to the ideas of popular Christian authors, artists, bloggers, and tweets to inform my own doctrine. Although other believers can teach us much about God and spur us on in our faith and learning, it's sad to realize how many Christians find these sources more trustworthy and credible than God's own Word. When I hear someone say, "I'm a Christian but...... (insert some teaching or truth that they aren't willing to go along with)" a red flag goes up that he or she is getting choosy. The path which Christ offers us is grace filled and a free gift, but it's not a grab bag to be filled with the parts we like best. In His teachings, Jesus never minced words to the crowds that gathered around Him. He made it clear that He offered the path of everlasting life, but He made it equally evident that it required absolute surrender. Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for me will save it... (Luke 9:23-24).
So this is a challenge for myself as I seek to feed my appetite to grow in the depth of my knowledge of Christ. May I lay down my life, my agenda, and my will to pick up His cross daily. May I remember that I am no longer a beggar, but I also can't allow myself to become a chooser. May I not listen to the voices around me or the sinful nature within that tempts me to make less of my Savior to fit what is comfortable or convenient. Instead, may my mind be challenged and moldable to be reshaped by His teachings. And lastly, may the basis for my knowledge and truths be first and foremost based in study of His own inspired and all-sufficient Word. Beggars can't be choosers. The only thing I choose is to be neither but to simply be His.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)
Although we can renounce our status as beggars and embrace our membership in God's own family, it's important to keep in mind from whence we came. Beggars can't be choosers the old adage says, and yet I'm sorry to say that I myself and many other believers can become quite choosy and selective in their walk of faith. Many will seek to conform God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to their own image, to place God into a small mold or box. Be wary of such an attitude, for we were made in His image and not the other way around. We are a mere reflection of His awesome glory. He is so much greater, so much more powerful, so much more holy and awe inspiring than I can even fathom or understand. I'm also embarrassed to admit my own failings in often looking to the ideas of popular Christian authors, artists, bloggers, and tweets to inform my own doctrine. Although other believers can teach us much about God and spur us on in our faith and learning, it's sad to realize how many Christians find these sources more trustworthy and credible than God's own Word. When I hear someone say, "I'm a Christian but...... (insert some teaching or truth that they aren't willing to go along with)" a red flag goes up that he or she is getting choosy. The path which Christ offers us is grace filled and a free gift, but it's not a grab bag to be filled with the parts we like best. In His teachings, Jesus never minced words to the crowds that gathered around Him. He made it clear that He offered the path of everlasting life, but He made it equally evident that it required absolute surrender. Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for me will save it... (Luke 9:23-24).
So this is a challenge for myself as I seek to feed my appetite to grow in the depth of my knowledge of Christ. May I lay down my life, my agenda, and my will to pick up His cross daily. May I remember that I am no longer a beggar, but I also can't allow myself to become a chooser. May I not listen to the voices around me or the sinful nature within that tempts me to make less of my Savior to fit what is comfortable or convenient. Instead, may my mind be challenged and moldable to be reshaped by His teachings. And lastly, may the basis for my knowledge and truths be first and foremost based in study of His own inspired and all-sufficient Word. Beggars can't be choosers. The only thing I choose is to be neither but to simply be His.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)
1.20.2013
Celebrating a Miss to Mrs.
Praying blessings for you sweet Mel and Dan!
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
(Proverbs 31:10)
1.17.2013
Endless, Incomprehensible, Extravagant Depths
There are things in life that we take hold of and perform without a glitch. I can show students how to solve a mean fraction problem like a pro (least common denominators and all)! I can also make a pretty delicious pie crust complete with rippled edges browned to just the right hue. There's an understandable procedure behind it that, once understood and internalized, the task can be mastered.
If only everything in life were so explainable and simple. And yet, I take that back because how truly boring it would be if we as humans had it all figured out. In our pride and selfish drive, the human race has strived through time to find a cause, explanation, and solution to every occurrence and aspect of our world and human experience. I can't help but think that we just aren't meant to get it all. We aren't the Maker, we were created in His image. We aren't the Father, we are the children. We aren't the Potter, we are the clay. We aren't the Doctor, we are the sick in need of healing. Over and over, we see that it doesn't draw our attention back to us as the focal point. It all points to Him! While God in his goodness has chosen to reveal much of Himself to us, I recognize that I won't be able to comprehend it all until that day when I finally come home to my Savior.
One of the most beautiful aspects of God that I continue daily to revel in is His love for us. I've heard the message from the time I was a small child how much He loves me, but with every year, every day, every moment, He continues to reveal new facets of this love in such a way that I find that it reaches endless, incomprehensible, and extravagant depths. A song which made me ponder and reflect on this truth recently is "His Kind of Love" by Group 1 Crew. The lyrics pose a question which matches my own realization that His love for me is deeper than I can imagine. "How do you sing about a love so deep without feeling like you missed something? I could try but I could not explain." While I know that in this life I may never reach a complete understanding of it, I will never stop trying to enjoy it and share it with others. This I know: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are complete without me, but they have found joy in creating me, blessing me, completing me, and letting me find wholeness in my relationship and worship of God. Although I bring nothing to God that He needs, He delights in me so much that Christ stepped down from the heavenly realms of glory to pay the price for my sins and redeem me with His saving grace. I can't earn this love. No, it has been given to me as a gift and it will not be taken away. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 38-39).
Such endless, incomprehensible, extravagant depths of love. I won't minimize it by pretending to have fully wrapped my mind around it, but I will dive in and bathe myself in His great love that He has poured out upon my life knowing that each day of this life I have been given the opportunity to realize it and experience more fully until I reach glory!
If only everything in life were so explainable and simple. And yet, I take that back because how truly boring it would be if we as humans had it all figured out. In our pride and selfish drive, the human race has strived through time to find a cause, explanation, and solution to every occurrence and aspect of our world and human experience. I can't help but think that we just aren't meant to get it all. We aren't the Maker, we were created in His image. We aren't the Father, we are the children. We aren't the Potter, we are the clay. We aren't the Doctor, we are the sick in need of healing. Over and over, we see that it doesn't draw our attention back to us as the focal point. It all points to Him! While God in his goodness has chosen to reveal much of Himself to us, I recognize that I won't be able to comprehend it all until that day when I finally come home to my Savior.
One of the most beautiful aspects of God that I continue daily to revel in is His love for us. I've heard the message from the time I was a small child how much He loves me, but with every year, every day, every moment, He continues to reveal new facets of this love in such a way that I find that it reaches endless, incomprehensible, and extravagant depths. A song which made me ponder and reflect on this truth recently is "His Kind of Love" by Group 1 Crew. The lyrics pose a question which matches my own realization that His love for me is deeper than I can imagine. "How do you sing about a love so deep without feeling like you missed something? I could try but I could not explain." While I know that in this life I may never reach a complete understanding of it, I will never stop trying to enjoy it and share it with others. This I know: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are complete without me, but they have found joy in creating me, blessing me, completing me, and letting me find wholeness in my relationship and worship of God. Although I bring nothing to God that He needs, He delights in me so much that Christ stepped down from the heavenly realms of glory to pay the price for my sins and redeem me with His saving grace. I can't earn this love. No, it has been given to me as a gift and it will not be taken away. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 38-39).
Such endless, incomprehensible, extravagant depths of love. I won't minimize it by pretending to have fully wrapped my mind around it, but I will dive in and bathe myself in His great love that He has poured out upon my life knowing that each day of this life I have been given the opportunity to realize it and experience more fully until I reach glory!
1.12.2013
Reckless
It's simple to carry a heart of gratefulness and praise on many days and occasions. Much like the sun shining brightly upon our lives and its rays warming us to the core, our situation may match our desires and result in such happiness that overwhelms. Yet just as the sun rises each morning to greet us, it too departs at dusk leaving the darkness of night. When our circumstances dishearten, when hearts are broken, when doors close, or when we struggle to understand disappointment, our hearts may not be as likely to overflow with praise and thanksgiving.
In such circumstances, I am forced to survey the source of joy in my heart. Do I find my happiness in the ever changing people, places, and things in my surroundings and environment? May it not be so, for these will inevitably disappoint. No, my joy comes from a deeper and rock solid source; my life proclaims utter gratitude for the gift of salvation and adoption as a child of God that I have been granted through Christ! Though it may be simple to praise Him for His blessings in moments of ease and contentment, how much more significant is our praise in times of struggle. His love and His promises do not falter or waver as if blown about by the wind. They are steadfast and firm. With this understanding, it is essential to be reckless as we offer up praise for His goodness and saving grace that is ever present. As the lyrics of the song "You Are" by Colton Dixon offer, "If I had no voice, if I had no tongue, I would dance for you like the rising sun." Whatever seems lacking in our present circumstances, it cannot hinder praise lifted up to our deserving God. Take my voice, yet I will still dance for Him because such joy and worship cannot be withheld. There is nothing that this world has to offer that can bring true happiness or steal my source of joy. The sun will rise and set, but despite it all I will recklessly give glory to Him who is worthy. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)
1.06.2013
A Love Resolution
I'm reminded of a question once posed of Jesus by the Pharisees. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ' Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Matthew 22:36-39) It seems that these two commandments highlighted by Christ are quite worthy of my attention and personal growth. How, though, does one more effectively love God and others? Our society certainly does us no favors in exemplifying the type of love to which we are called. It's not an empty word tossed around haphazardly because you strongly like something, but it's something much deeper, richer, and very real. In striving for an abundant love, a love that increas[es] and overflow[s] (1 Thessalonians 3:12), there are three steps I find to begin taking.
1. Pray
Our love is so shallow and imperfect compared to that to which we have been called. Thus, we cannot grow more perfect in our love for Christ or one another without prayerfully requesting His guidance and help. Paul demonstrates this in saying, "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight..." (Philippians 1:9) Striving for a more perfect love without asking for His help is futile. We must lift up our petitions before God recognizing our need for His hand in our growth and maturity in love. In addition to praying for God's hand to help us love more abundantly, this verse also leads us to a second step.
2. Learn
In the aforementioned verse, Paul has prayed that their love may increase in knowledge. Thus, we find that our love grows when we seek to immerse ourselves in His Word. In His Word, God has given us insight and direction to help us love in a more perfect way. For example, in the well-known and often quoted love chapter of 1 Corinthians, we learn what love should look like. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) From these verses, we gain knowledge of love that we can apply in our own lives. For instance, when we wish to show love, we must be patient. We also find that we shouldn't keep a list of the ways in which we've been wronged, but loving means forgiving. Furthermore, growing in the knowledge of God's Word can allow us to better love our Heavenly Father. For example, in the book of Romans Paul expounds upon the gospel message. As He studies and considers this good news, it brings Paul to a point of passionate worship for God's greatness and goodness. "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." When we delve into the truths of Scripture and see the beautiful love letter of redemption that God has written to us, His children, we can't help but love Him and praise Him all the more!
3. Follow
Finally, I can begin to grow in the depth of my love for God and others by following His example. When I was dead in sin and thus an enemy of God, He showed me the greatest love imaginable. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friend, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4: 10-11) Jesus hung upon a cross and paid the full penalty for my every sin so that through faith, I might have His righteousness and be called a child of God. How this great love stirs my adoration for my Savior and presses me onward to love others as I have been called to do.
It's not just a January goal, and it's not just a 2013 thing. He loved us first and He loves us perfectly. How can we not in response spend a lifetime growing in our love for our Master and one another? This isn't a new year's resolution. It's a life resolution. It's a love resolution.
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