Come to Me....as a child

As I was reading Ann Voskamp's book 1000 gifts, I came across something she wrote on page 54 that literally stopped me in my faith tracks.

 "I forget Eden and naming and nails, and it all seems just a bit....juvenile.  Contrived." 

She was talking about the feelings of foolishness and juvenile-ness that come up in the middle of this experiment of counting to 1000 gifts, this practice of Eucharisteo. 

I think, "yes, I have experienced this voice of ...almost shaming." Then I realize, when I'm following The Lord, stepping out in literally anything new, the adult, the reasonable voice comes into my heart and mind. It says, "Stop this foolishness, stop this crazy childlike behavior, this vulnerability....ahhhh  there it is ....vulnerable. None of us like to feel vulnerable, exposed. but isn't that the essence of being childlike? 

It's true, there is a vulnerable aspect to this faith walk. Jesus says to believe without seeing. It feels like a game of blindfold sometimes. He said this to Thomas, the doubter and to Keely, the reticent, blessed are you who believe even though you haven't seen me. (John 20:29)

I am suddenly feeling like The Lord is pulling back the veil for me on another of His kingdom secrets and it leaves me feeling so excited. I even find part of this mystery in my very favorite chunk of scripture. Yes, you guessed it Matthew 11. Woo Hoo! (Look to the left of the margin and to the title of this blog). Just three verses prior is this fabulous find! It's sub heading is 

"Jesus' prayer of Thanksgiving" (wouldn't that be classified as Eucharisteo?)
Matthew 11:25"At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!" 

As I walk in childlike vulnerability, I'm feeling myself become more filled with faith and more courage to step out. But, as far as this vulnerable faith walk, I'm thinking, "Lord, how far do you want me to take this attitude? In what areas of my life would you like me to apply this?"

I feel the Holy Spirit instantly whisper into my heart, "Your love walk."  

How do I  break that concept down in the areas that are right where I live every day?

FORGIVE FASTER AND WITHOUT STIPULATIONS AND LOVE QUICKER WITHOUT RESERVATION

The "adult voice says, I will forgive, but I cannot forget. I'm thinking, "Lord if I forgive, they'll just do it again!"  Jesus responds instantly with an affirmative. Yes they will do it again and probably 70 times 7 more times.  (Matt 18:22) . My forgiveness does not hinge on the security of knowing they will not ever offend again. It depends solely on the unconditional love and complete forgiveness Jesus offers me every moment of every day. Over and over, again and again with abandon and with love. Unreal! Crazy!  Childlike?  

Forgiving and loving like this are both perfect examples of me letting go of self protection and choosing to trust God with my well being.

Just like I'm practicing Eucharisteo, I am practicing love and forgiveness...Jesus style.  

Along with this choice to step out in faith and follow Jesus like a child in the areas of the heart, comes right on the heels of this decision the voice of cynicism. For example, in the area of relationships, if I'm hurt it's just plain easier to stay out of the sandbox, to isolate and keep a measured distance, whereas a child jumps back in and asks the next kid to be his friend. 

Adult Cynicism vs. Childlike vulnerability. Self protection vs. trust in God

Look at these concepts...which ones bring joy, delight?  God tells me that in Him I find joy and that if I delight in Him,  He will give me the desires of my heart. (Psalm 37:4) These are promises for all of His children!  It's like a double positive! I let God love me with abandon and enjoy Him and I get to be even more blessed with everything I truly desire! 

I want to live my life differently in light of this truth. Instead of measuring everything...what time is it, how long do I have, what have I accomplished today, how much will it cost, how many calories have I eaten, what's my budget. ...Jesus says to live in the "unforced rhythms of grace"and not get all worked up about time and productivity, not to worry about the things that unbelievers chaff over. 

Matt 6:31-33

"So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

I might even err on the side of loving too much, on the side of forgiving too often and too easily. I might laugh too loud or cry too hard or waste time just to listen to and be closer to another.  I might just end up believing Him to the point of childlike faith and vulnerability and maybe even looking foolish....or being part of a miracle.

Again I'm reminded that the Kingdom ways are so opposite of the ways of this world. 

The way to climb up the ladder in the Kingdom with Jesus, is to get lower and serve. 

Matthew 23:11-12The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted

The way to mature in the Spirit is to become more humble like a child. 

Matt 18:4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.  

I can risk it all when I know how loved I am. He is so very lavish with me! If He does take something away He will care for it or them until this time of living on this earth (the classroom) is over. It's so short and so temporary. Gods got me, I need not fear or self protect or make for myself. 

My personal prayer:

I love you Abba. It's another uncovered mystery! It's an olive branch of hope and it leads to excitement and joy and more love and more forgiveness and more delight!  I love you as you explode into my heart with your truths! Thank you for giving me another olive branch to fly back to the ark with! To my bible study sistas who, like me, need encouragement and a new hope. 

Your prayer and reflection questions for the week:

1) Where is God asking your heart to step out in Him, to follow Him in childlike abandon, but you just feel like it would leave you too vulnerable? 

2)Ask Him to transform you and to grow your trust in Him. 

3) Find the gift in the possibility...write it/them

I love you
Keely

He hears my cry

Last week I shared with you that in this current season of my life The Lord has called me to be like

the dove that brought Noah the olive branch. This olive branch was literal proof of new life and hope for a new way. While spending time with The Lord this last week He led me to a verse that really touched my heart and fueled this new hope.

Psalm 116:1-2
I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 

I just love the thought that The Lord is not only listening to me but leaning in to hear me when I call out to Him. He listens like He is waiting for me to speak to Him...wanting me to talk to Him.

I feel so filled with gratitude by the compassion and love this verse incites in me that I must respond. I want to love Him back and listen to Him. Funny, but as I look further into Psalm 116, King David felt the same.  Look at verse 12 

"What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?" And, then David gives us the answer in verse 17; "I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of The Lord forever!"

What does It mean to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving? I think it means to thank Him when it's a sacrifice, when it's hard, when I don't feel like praising Him because I'm hurting and would rather do and feel anything else. Look at a few verses that use the same term, "sacrifice of thanksgiving (praise)".

Hebrews 13:15 (ESV)

"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name......(instead of rehearsing the problem)"

Psalm 107:22(ESV)

 "And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!"

There are tons more verses in the Bible that use this term!  I feel like it's one of those mysteries The Lord reveals to His children as we lean in and desire to grow up into Him. (Ephesians 4:15). Then I remember Romans 12 about offering my whole self as a living breathing sacrifice to The Lord. Oh my, what God could do with my life if I offer Him all of me and at all times!

Romans 12:1 (ESV)

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." I am thinking that "presenting my body" to God, includes my mouth...what I say, and my mind..."think on these things"(Phil 4:8).

There are two voices inside me, the Holy Spirit and my own. Who do I want to listen to? He is teaching me to hear His voice over my own, over my pain, my issues and the noise they create in my head.  I would prefer to follow His voice and leading than my own finite understanding. Jesus gave me the Holy Spirit because He knew I needed Him to live victoriously.

John 14 (MSG)-The Spirit of Truth

“I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!" 

ESV 16 "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever"

With all of this in mind, Why not practice offering Him a sacrifice of praise right now? We did this together in Bible Study on Monday night and Tuesday. I think it was a transformational moment for many of us.  Pull out your journal and turn on your favorite worship song and just write out your heart on the pages.

1. Tell Him your stuff ...your hard stuff and how it leaves you feeling
2. Ask Him for help and guidance, for His perspective on your difficulty 
3. Now practice finding something you can offer, the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for while in the midst of your trouble....the gift. One of a thousand!

Keely

"AND BEHOLD, IN HER MOUTH WAS A FRESHLY PLUCKED OLIVE LEAF"

After watching session #1 of 1000 Gifts small group study, I was left with some of my own questions....Do I look right past the gift, the beauty ....and start reaching? Just like Adam and Eve looked right past the beauty of the garden.....reaching for the apple?  Am I really so different from old Adam and Eve?  Why do I love the garden after I've been kicked out of it? 

Why do I wonder why I didn't try harder, love more, say (or not say) the needed words until after the relationship is broken? 

I want to get on the front side of this thing called life and beauty and grace and joy.

God’s Word teaches me just how to do just that by learning how to walk in the Spirit! And this book we are studying, "1000 Gifts" is going to be a big help to me in this endeavor.

My son Gabe happened to call me Sunday night and ask me if he could pray over me. "Uh Yeah!!"  In his prayer he mentioned that I was the Lord;s dove. Weird huh? But my mind immediately went to Noah's dove in Genesis. So the next morning I went straight Genesis 8 and read that part involving the dove. 

At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.  And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth.

I thought to myself, "Lord I can imagine the thrill on Noah's face as the dove flew back with hope, peace, and a chance for a new start. The storm is over. We can go back out and try again at this life thing!"

The bible refers to this actual dove in scripture as a "she"!  For me, personally, after Gabe’s prayer for me, the fact that the dove was a she was pure delight!! 

This she dove brings proof (the olive leaf) and the good news of new life after devastation. This thought brought that beautiful scripture to mind from Isaiah 61:4 (ESV)

" They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations;
They shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations."

 I'm here to tell you there is new life after a flood.  There is hope after your life has been devastated. There is a place of peace after the horrible storm that pretty much drowned out all your dreams. Here is an olive branch from The Lord. There is a hope that does not disappoint. And that hope has a name.....Jesus.Rom 5:5 tells us;

"And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." 

Let Your peace Lord, replace the striving and the disharmony in our lives...simply naturally hopefully just as sweet and as natural as the dove carrying an olive leaf to Noah.  Step by step. 

Let us choose to be like the little child Jesus talks about in Matthew 18:2

"And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

 And remember last week’s sweet verse. Psalm 131:2 

"But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content."

 Let's get rid of the cynical adult. The voice of the cynic says, "Been there done that" but the heart of a child wants to believe and trust and run to Him. 

Well I'm just "childlike" and filled with enough faith to believe and trust that He brings new life and new hope when I choose to turn to Him and put my trust in Him. I believe God has been preparing my heart to bring this message to you and to bring to you this olive branch of hope.  Someone reading these words right now needs this oh so badly!  He is coming with a promise of new life if we will trust Him and make Him the center, the Lord of our lives. I believe we can do life with a fresh newness....throwing out the discontent that permeates our attitudes and inviting in a new way, the way of graceful and joy-filled thanksgiving offered up to The Lord. I must remember that at times this is an effort, a sacrifice.

Psalm 50:23

"But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me...." 

Here is the key to pushing forward...it lies in my choosing. We like Noah have to be willing to open a window. Genesis 8:6.

"After forty days Noah opened a window he had made in the ark" 

 My heart is just like that window and I can choose whether or not to open it up to The Lord. I often remind my young teen girls in our afternoon Bible study, we get to choose. I have them repeat it after me quite regularly. God loves me but I get to choose. Have you been closed up for a long time? Will you soften your heart and open a window for the Holy Spirit to come and bring you hope....perhaps a new way of living, with Jesus as the center of your life?

Maybe you've made Jesus your Savior for eternal life with Him, but you have never given Him Lordship of your life on earth as it is in heaven?

PRAYER

AH LORD GOD I THANK YOU

FOR HOPE THAT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.... JESUS

I NEED AN OLIVE BRANCH TODAY, HOPE...ITS A GIFT FROM YOU

AND I RECEIVE IT LIKE A LITTLE CHILD.

FORGIVE MY CYNICAL SIDE

YOU PROMISE THE OLD PASSES AWAY AND ALL THINGS BECOME NEW WHEN I

CHOOSE YOU

AMEN

Contentment

Psalm 131:2
But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.

Feel the peace inside after reading that verse.....
Contentment comes as I choose to trust, choose to quiet myself...

God just keeps offering me new opportunities to draw close to him no matter how I have lived...this group is just another one of those.

John 15:5-8
The Message (MSG)
5-8 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

Choosing to look to Him and not to others for my hearts needs brings peace. I love to remember "peace pushes everything else off the table and sets a place for joy".
He gives me his peace. Not peace like the world gives. No one can restore my heart or secure my position like He does. Whenever I look for this in anything or anyone but him, I leave disappointed, discouraged, discontent......

Contentment immediately changes my vision. When I'm content I can see the gift and the blessing. I can give Him thanks and truly praise. When I'm discontent I see nothing but the lack, the missing. Like Adam and Eve...where are you holding out on me God?  I don't trust your hand or your heart towards me. I need to reach...get what I need for myself.

Can we start down the path of contentment together?
Let's repeat that opening verse together and make it a prayer in our  hearts to God.

Psalm 131:2
But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.

Feel His Peace?

Ready....set GO!

We had an inspiring night Monday as the Leader Chics shared what was on their heart.  Powerful!  A big thank you for all the yummy salads and appetizers too.

Don't forget that we dive into the study this upcoming Monday/Tuesday. We will give out books and pick our groups.

We have a couple new ideas to implement as well. When you bring your friend we will make sure you don't get split up. Also, we will be discussing the short video and looking up the coordinating Bible verses together in our small groups. Any take home study is to enrich your private time between you and God.

If you have felt discouraged or discontent this week, this study is for you....really truly!!!

Looking forward to diving in
Love
Keely