Holy…

Posted onFebruary 22nd,2012

Today I have a post at Encouragement Cafe titled “Walking in Freedom.” I hope you check it out.

Hello to all of you came from the Encouragement Cafe. I pray God blessed you and I hope you enjoy my little piece of cyber-space.

Holy. In some circles that word is synonymous with self-righteousness. I lived on the tall tower of self-righteousness for a long time until God’s grace toppled my tower.

I lived with the smug knowledge I figured out I needed a savior. I was smart enough to know that and anyone who didn’t realize he or she needed a savior was not as smart as I was. I acted as if I only needed a little mercy. I missed God’s grace and mercy. Instead I climbed my self-made tower and shook my head at folks who couldn’t see their need for Jesus.

Staying on that tower wasn’t easy. I did mental gymnastics so when I did sin it was smaller than those who were walking far from Christ. I judged others as guilty excusing my own guilt. I was holy.

The truth about holiness is we can only reflect God’s holiness. We can never be holy in our own strength. God has to set us apart by indwelling us. It is His Spirit that empowers us and makes us different. Second we can only reflect God’s perfect holiness when we are empowered by the Spirit in us. Finally when we spend time with God we actually look different. Much like Moses radiated God’s glory after He met God, our faces shine from the light of His glory. But all true holiness comes from God not some crazy tower we try to keep up.

True holiness is attractive not judgmental. Holiness comes from God not from us. Our God is holy, holy, holy. Pretty amazing isn’t it?

Angela
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Fighting the Wrong Battle

Posted onFebruary 21st,2012

I like being right. I hate being wrong.

In an effort to never be wrong I often ponder, pray, and only take steps when I know for sure God said yes.

Not a bad way to do things except sometimes I am a bit like Gideon. Offering test after test to make sure God really is calling me to do whatever it is.

I stand back and look at it. I measure my gifts, talents, abilities. When I don’t see much room for failure I step out and go.

The problem? I fight to not have to do things that are God-sized while longing to do huge things for God.

I may have a multiple personality disorder because it sounds nuts even as I type it…

I want to do big things for God without the risk. I want to reach others with the gospel, encourage those struggling with infertility, teach God’s word. But I want to do it my way. I want to do it in a way I have control.

I fight God about what to do next to reach this massive God-sized goal of being a published author and a sought after speaker. Somehow I think if I do it my way I won’t fail.  Instead I fight God rather than the enemy of my soul.

I fight on the safe turf of my own home rather than fight on the enemy’s strongholds. I do things in my own power rather than rely on God (who is bigger and way more necessary than I am to bless others).

I fight to remain comfortable when God wants me uncomfortable and desperate for Him. I fight for my independence when God wants me to become more and more dependent on Him. I fight to do something for God when He wants to do something through me. I fight to look like I have all the answers when only God holds the answers.

Instead of fighting God I need to be on my knees before Him, begging Him to work through me. I must stop fighting God and start letting God battle through me. I need to turn the battle to the unsafe areas in life. Places where there are no pretty answers and still speak truth into those circumstances.

When God is doing the work in me – whether the world thinks I succeed or fail – I am victorious because through His power I can say no to my sinful self and yes to Him.

Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever…Victory because He empowers me. He empowers you too.

What is He calling you to do that is beyond you?

Angela
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What God Sees When He Looks at You

Posted onFebruary 17th,2012

I have a critical eye. I don’t like to mess up or fail or sin. When I make a mistake I rehearse it over and over again. I want to do better next time – to improve.

So I wonder what God sees when He looks at me – this stumbling, fumbling, missing-the-mark-so-completely-I-wonder-if-I-am-in-the-right-county-much-less-city woman. How could He see anything other than the mess that I am especially since He sees me more clearly than I do myself.

But that isn’t what God seems to notice when He looks at us. Ephesians 2:10 says, “…we are God’s workmanship…” So God sees us as His creation or literally His poem. Crazy right. I the confessed mess am God’s workmanship…His poem.

1 Peter 2:9 says we are a “royal priesthood.” God sees us as priests. Do you know what priests wore on their heads in the temple? The priests wore special turbans with a special gold plate fastened to it. Engraved on the plate were the words, “Holy to the LORD.” (Exodus 39:30) So when God looks down on folks who have made Jesus Lord of their lives by accepting His sacrifice for their sins, He sees these people as holy.

Holy means to set apart or separate. These people are set apart for God. Set apart to do good works, but also viewed as holy or perfect to the LORD. These priests were perfect through the eyes of God and set apart. Not only set apart and perfect, but also glorious or beautiful. So we are set apart, perfect, and beautiful to the God of gods – the One whom the angels call, “Holy, holy holy!”

Each time God sees His children, His royal priesthood He sees the inscription “Holy to the LORD.” You are holy, set apart, perfect, and glorious to Him because of what He did for you. AMAZING!

God doesn’t see me as less than, He sees me as holy. May I live in such a way that my life reflects His holiness.

Will you join me in offering God praise for seeing us as holy?

 

Angela
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Overwhelmed By Giving

Posted onFebruary 15th,2012

The task seemed monumental to me.

God gave Moses specific instructions about how to build the Tent of Meeting.

The Israelites would need about a ton of gold, 3.75 tons of silver, 2.5 tons of bronze, special cloths, embroidery work, jewels, hides, and more (See Exodus 36-38). Remember these are the folks God just freed from 400+ years of slavery in Egypt. Granted God told them when they left Egypt to ask their neighbors for clothing, gold, and silver. God mentioned in this way they would “plunder Egypt.”

God provided for His people through the Egyptians giving them gold, silver, and clothing. Then the Israelites gave to God. First they gave as part of the census. A total of 603,550 men aged 20 and over escaped Egypt. Each man gave 1/5 an ounce or 5.5 grams of silver. That tiny bit of silver per man added up to 3.75 tons of silver!

If we all give our 1/5 an ounce or tithe to God it adds up. For the Israelites it added up to 3.75 tons of silver enough to make bases, hooks, overlay posts, and make bands for the Tent of Meeting. For us it will add up to finance ministries, mission trips, meals for the hungry, the list goes on…

Not only did the Israelites give because they had to through the census. They also gave because they wanted to give. In fact they gave so much that Moses had to stop them from giving…Check this out:

“So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.”  Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more…” Exodus 36:4-6

Seems to me that Israel had figured out how to be cheerful givers. Givers who know they could never pay back God, but want to honor Him by being part of His work. Givers that gave and gave and gave to the point they had to be turned away because the giving was getting in the way of the work. The giving was getting distracting.

Can you imagine that happening these days? Only a small portion of church member regularly tithe, much less give “freewill offerings.” What would it look like if God called us to create a “Tent of Meeting?” Would we have to restrain folks from bringing more or would we need to beg for gifts?

Am I a giver who gives and gives and gives? One thing I do know is I can never out-give God. So why am I hesitant to give to Him? I pray the church will experience this type of giving – the kind that flows from a heart deeply connected to God. Oh that we would give and give and give for God is worthy.

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Angela
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