This is an amazing redemption story of our need for Christ and his undeniable power to heal us.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Child-like
One of the greatest examples we can follow in this world today is the example of a child, the raw and uninhibited love of a child. The softness of their heart is unbelievable. I visited a Kindergarten on Monday and God opened my eyes to what faith, trust, and love looks like. To feel comfortable and secure all children need is a loving look, a small conversation, or a gentle touch from someone who cares. When I walked into that kindergarten class on Monday, I had never even seen any of these kids before, but I walked in and immediately started playing with four kids: Ashton, Dillon, Trinidy, and Sherobe. They welcomed me right away, I sat down with them and asked them what they were building. They responded by telling me they were building a zoo and sorting the animals into groups and never questioned who I was, but immediately let me join their group and play with them. Just amazing, in a matter of seconds they were having animals run on my head and telling me about what they did during their snow days. I have a hard time finding many people who are this loving, trusting, and inviting. As we grow older we often let ourselves become warn down by the world and buy into holding grudges, being self sufficient, and believing that the world revolves around us. We are consumed with our busy schedules, what we need to do, often don't realize how petty we can become, and how hardened our hearts have become. The warm welcome I received from the kindergarten children I didn't even know, was the warmest welcome I had received in days, full of love.
As we progressed to story time Ashton already trusted me and was laying all over me as his teacher read, and shared his questions and ideas about the book with me, he had met me 10 minutes ago, that just blows my mind. Adults are not as trusting as little Ashton. Jesus calls us to be childlike, like Ashton, with a humble and sincere heart and not to be childish by arguing over ridiculous petty issues that really have no meaning. We need to have a soft heart, that is loving and welcoming and trusting in Christ regardless of what anyone has even done to us. Love everyone unconditionally, trust Christ ruthlessly.
Jesus said:
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." -Matthew 18:2
So put your pride and hardened heart aside and humble yourself like a child.
As we progressed to story time Ashton already trusted me and was laying all over me as his teacher read, and shared his questions and ideas about the book with me, he had met me 10 minutes ago, that just blows my mind. Adults are not as trusting as little Ashton. Jesus calls us to be childlike, like Ashton, with a humble and sincere heart and not to be childish by arguing over ridiculous petty issues that really have no meaning. We need to have a soft heart, that is loving and welcoming and trusting in Christ regardless of what anyone has even done to us. Love everyone unconditionally, trust Christ ruthlessly.
Jesus said:
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." -Matthew 18:2
So put your pride and hardened heart aside and humble yourself like a child.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Paul
"The one passion of Paul's life was to proclaim the gospel of God. He welcomed heartbreak, disillusionment, and tribulation for only one reason - these things kept him unmovable in his devotion to the gospel of God."
This quote from a Oswald Chambers devotional, has been blowing my mind all week, I still cannot fully comprehend how trusting Paul was that he would WELCOME 'heartbreak, disillusionment, and tribulation'. To welcome someone means to kindly greet a person who you are happy to see. Paul welcomed disaster into his life, he welcomed the unknowing, the trying, the heartbreaking. To welcome something means to gladly invite it in, when you welcome someone you give them a hug as they enter your house, Paul welcomed disaster into his life. To be able to welcome struggle, you must have a ruthless trust in the Lord, an undivided devotion to Jesus Christ. A trust that escapes my understanding, yet a trust I wish I had. This trust is so unmovable and concrete, it reminds me of the faith of the Centurion (Matthew 8:5-13). Trust and obedience are key components of your relationship with Christ and that is why Paul was so passionate about preaching the gospel because by welcoming disaster into his life he learned that the only way for him to persevere was to trust and obey the Lord, our Saviour. The more we obey the commands of our Creator and Saviour the more we show our love (John 14:21). Remember when disaster enters your life, when you are heartbroken that the Lord placed this in your life for you to learn more of Him and for you to grow closer to Him until your devotion and trust in him are unmovable like Paul. Read (James 1:2-4,12)
This quote from a Oswald Chambers devotional, has been blowing my mind all week, I still cannot fully comprehend how trusting Paul was that he would WELCOME 'heartbreak, disillusionment, and tribulation'. To welcome someone means to kindly greet a person who you are happy to see. Paul welcomed disaster into his life, he welcomed the unknowing, the trying, the heartbreaking. To welcome something means to gladly invite it in, when you welcome someone you give them a hug as they enter your house, Paul welcomed disaster into his life. To be able to welcome struggle, you must have a ruthless trust in the Lord, an undivided devotion to Jesus Christ. A trust that escapes my understanding, yet a trust I wish I had. This trust is so unmovable and concrete, it reminds me of the faith of the Centurion (Matthew 8:5-13). Trust and obedience are key components of your relationship with Christ and that is why Paul was so passionate about preaching the gospel because by welcoming disaster into his life he learned that the only way for him to persevere was to trust and obey the Lord, our Saviour. The more we obey the commands of our Creator and Saviour the more we show our love (John 14:21). Remember when disaster enters your life, when you are heartbroken that the Lord placed this in your life for you to learn more of Him and for you to grow closer to Him until your devotion and trust in him are unmovable like Paul. Read (James 1:2-4,12)
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