Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it

I am tired of making the Christian life look good.  I might as well wear the t-shirt that says "Christians have more fun".  When Jesus said we could have life to the full (John 10:10), I am told He was not wearing the t-shirt.  If anything His shirt would say "fullness of life found here".  It's futile of me to think we Christians need to persuade the world that we love our lives.  In fact Paul said, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."--1 Corinthians 15:11  If indeed Jesus has been raised, then my living is not empty.  I fix my eyes on the prize.  That prize is not less drinking, fewer swear words, and a "good job" from morality at the end of the day...it is El Shaddai, God all sufficient. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to ...

Confessions of a hopeless romantic:  I own a lot, I mean a LOT of dating books.  A girl inherits these heirlooms from friends and sisters that get married.  They were all given to me, and reading at least two of them is like a rite of passage for the singleton.  I stand and laugh at the spines sitting pretty on the shelves.  I scoff.  I stagger and then declare, “You are no formula for happiness!”  Rather, I have learned more about pouring out my heart to God and in return hearing what He has to say.  This requires lots of hours on your face.  This means humbling yourself to the point of saying, "Father, teach me to delight in You alone  I don't want my fleshly comfort, I want Jesus."  Usually there are tears involved.  That’s where this relationship begins.  No amount of formulated books will bring comfort, but the Spirit of God Himself brings rest for my pining soul.    “Trust in him at all times, O pe...

If I were able to sit down and tell you exactly what made me write this, you'd think I'm nuts.  Let's just say it stems from a relationship that is as much a paradox to myself as it is to onlookers.  The beauty of it is, God gave us those human connections as a means of displaying His love that is ever patient, passionate, and tender.  Go back and read about my mourning doves if you must.   God loves us so much.   I mean that in no trivial sense. “My people have committed two sins:  they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”—Jeremiah 2:13 God cries out to us.   John Piper sums it up that God gives us what we need the most:   Himself for our enjoyment forever.   So, here God is basically saying, “You would choose this, over Me?  Don’t you know I love you?”   And even previously in verse five He exclaims “What fault did your fathers find in me, that t...

Today marks the second anniversary of me leaving ballet.  As I remember, I got a pedicure after all was said and done...finally no more pointe shoes to ruin my painted toenails.  However, this isn't a day to have self-pity.  I consider it a celebration of God's own victories in my heart!  David wrote in Psalm 21, "O Lord, the king rejoices in your strength.  How great is his joy in the victories you give!"  Yes, today marks the journey of such events.  Within one year's time God soothed the wounds and taught me a lot.  He is constantly saving me from the sin that hurts.  Idols are there, we are just blind to them.  Of course, until you leave the Rose theater crying. In addition, a year ago God brought further circumstances for me to walk with Him through.  It has a lot to do with giving up rights to desires of our hearts to find that God TRULY is the supreme fulfillment of them all. Lord, thank you for your continual patience a...

There’s a mourning dove couple that sits out on my deck every summer.   Today my old friends have returned and I notice that the Christmas treats Mrs. Dove dished out were far too generous to them this year.   Both plump brown birds sit in the exact same spots every season.   I see the same affectionate signs of old love that can be noticed in humans.   How sweet that Mr. Dove sits patiently as the misses fixes his tie and collar.   How kind of Mr. to dotingly peck the Mrs. on the cheek.   As I sat watching a little bit of “shoulder time” between the love birds, God’s beauty was tender and sweet.   He made us for relationships.   They intricately display His glory in such a unique way.   It was clear in my own mind that Mrs. Dove and Mr. Dove rejoiced over each other’s company.   In the same way Christ rejoices over us.   To that, I smile and coo.   “…as a   bridegroom   rejoices   over   his   bride ...