A Beautiful Exchange

I'm amazed at how much I have changed in the last 6 months. God is SO good. It hasn't been easy. Not one bit. It's been painful and ugly.... but beautiful too. There were times when I thought certain friendships were over. Thankfully, they weren't. Those were times of learning and growth for me. I'm so grateful to have gone through all of that and to see where we are now. It's most definitely a beautiful thing. I imagine that without Christ the outcome of all of this would've been completely different. There would've been no love, no forgiveness, lots of anger and frustration. We wouldn't have made it through, we would've ended up hating each other. And - I'm not speaking of one friend. There are at least three that come to mind and maybe more. It just goes to show that Christ changes EVERYTHING. He changes how you speak, react, think, love, forgive (and - I mean REALLY forgive), show grace and mercy, give, serve...He literally changes all of you. Every single part and it is AMAZING.

The Prodigal God.

I just finished an amazing book written by Timothy Keller.  It's called The Prodigal God and I highly recommend it.  It's basically about the story of the prodigal son... it's just done in a way that I've never heard before.  and - it's amazing.  Most sermons I've heard on this parable focus mainly on the younger brother, the prodigal son.  This book takes a look at both brothers.  The younger brother who leaves and then returns... and the older brother who stays.  Neither one is better than the other.

"Underneath the brothers' sharply different patterns of behavior is the same motivation and aim.  Both are using the father in different ways to get the things on which their hearts are really fixed.  It was wealth, not the love of the father, that they believed would make them happy and fulfilled."

The younger brother was just honest about what he wanted.  The older brother kept his sin hidden.  Both were wrong.

This was kind of an eye opening book for me.  It talked about how we can use our good acts and our obedience in certain areas as leverage over the Lord or even over people.  Mine would be more aimed towards people than God but if you know me at all, then you know that would make complete sense.  I'm a people person.  I'm a people pleaser.  I want to love and be loved in return.  I do nice things for people and I don't necessarily do them so they'll do something for me but - sometimes, not every time but sometimes I develop unfair expectations of others.  It's definitely something I'm aware of.  and - it's something the Lord is working out in me.  God is so good.  I'm in a crazy good place right now.  I'm learning and growing and it's amazing.  I'm so thankful for all that I have and all that He has done.  So.  Very.  Thankful.

I'm sure there's a ton more than I can say about this book... but I literally just finished it and I'm about to start a new one so I think that's all I have to say about it for now.  But - another blog may come a bit later. We'll just have to see.  ;o)

If you haven't read it.  You need to.  Do it.  Right now.

James

Makes Me Wanna Shout!

"The world will bring its condemnation. They may even put their sword behind it. But we know that the highest court has already ruled in our favor. 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31). No one successfully. If they reject us, He accepts us. If they hate us, He love us. If they imprison is, He sets our spirits free. If they afflict us, He refines us by the fire. If they kill us, He makes it a passage to paradise. They cannot defeat us. Christ has died. Christ is risen. We are alive in Him. And in Him there is no condemnation. We are forgiven, and we are righteous. 'And the righteous are as bold as a lion.' (Proverbs 28:1)." - John Piper in "50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die

Same Script, Different Cast

"What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, since Jesus came into my heart!"

Things are so different now and I'm so thankful that they are. Two years ago that wouldn't have been my answer. Change usually freaks me out. But - the Lord definitely knew what He was doing...I just couldn't see it. He knew that taking me away from my comfort was completely necessary for me to grow. To learn. To tear down walls. To remove idols. These past two years have been the hardest and the most amazing all at the same time. The Lord has done a mighty work in me and for that I'm eternally grateful. He's still mending some relationships that were injured during the process but I have no doubt in my mind that they will eventually reach a healthy place again. What will that look like? I have no idea and that's okay with me. :o)