Category: Faith

THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S LOVE

4/3/2020

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.”
C. S. Lewis

There are three core truths about God that are critical to our freedom. The first is that God is good. The second that God is loving. And finally, that God is in control. All three of these truths are intertwined, and without one the others fall short. If God is good, he must also, therefore, be loving. But if He is not in control, how can He really be good? And if He is not loving, He certainly cannot be good.

Today I want to talk with you about the reality of God’s love.

I think for the most part we all have a general understanding of the fact that God is loving. We all know John 3:16, and we often tell each other “God loves you!” But the question I want to challenge you with today is this: How is the reality of God’s love impacting your daily living?

While we may find ourselves familiar with the fact that God loves us, we may not necessarily have a full understanding of what that love looks like, which leads us to feeling, and subsequently living, as though God does not love us. The sad fact is that many of us struggle with looking at what’s happening in our lives and in our world and find ourselves wrestling with the question of God’s love.

THE CHALLENGE OF LOVE

To fully grasp the love of God, we need to take a step back and redefine love. The first problem we encounter when it comes to God’s love is that we have a misconception of what love is, what it looks like, and how it acts.

Scripture talks about three primary types of love: romantic/sexual love, brotherly/friendship love, and sacrificial love. The love that God has for us is sacrificial love – which, by the way, is the same love that He ultimately calls all us to strive to have for each other.

Part of our problem in defining love is that we resort to feelings over actions. We struggle to apply the truth of whether or not God loves us simply based on how we feel, rather than evaluating His love based on what actions He has taken towards us.

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LIVING LIKE GOD IS GOOD: THE FREEDOM OF FAITH

3/27/2020

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Yesterday we looked at our struggle to believe that God is good.
To read the previous post, click here.

HOW DO WE GET BACK?

When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
And afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
-Psalm 73:16-17, 21-28

STEP 1: THE RIGHT FOCus

Asaph doubted God’s goodness when he looked around him. He failed when he compared his life to the lives of others. He became discouraged when he let his emotions fuel his perspective. But when he lifted his eyes to God, he found hope.

When we go through times of pain and suffering, having the right focus is critical.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
-Isaiah 55:8

We need to take a step back and see the bigger picture. Not the bigger picture of our circumstances, but the bigger picture of God and who He has proven Himself to be in Scripture and in our own lives.

Instead of focusing on our circumstances, which constantly change, we need to focus on God, who never changes. Has God been faithful before? He will be faithful again.

God created us to glorify Him, and He gets glory through being good to us! Our problem is that we tend to forget that God knows more than we do, and so we question His method, forgetting that His thoughts and His ways are so much higher than ours.

STEP 2: THE RIGHT EXPECTATION

Instead of expecting God to make us happy, we need to expect God to make us holy – and then we will discover that joy is byproduct of holiness. Unfortunately for us, growth can only come through trials; that’s why Peter wrote that our suffering comes for a purpose:

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LIVING LIKE GOD IS GOOD: THE STRUGGLE WE ALL FACE

3/27/2020

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Anger. Bitterness. Resentment. Doubt. Accusations. Isolation.

How did we get here?

the truth about god

A. W. Tozer once said that what we believe about God is the most important thing about us.

Hannah Whitall Smith explained this idea further in her book, The Unselfishness of God, where she wrote:

“Everything in your spiritual life depends on the sort of God you worship.
Because the character of the worshiper will always be molded
by the character of what he worships: If it is a cruel and revengeful God,
the worshiper will be the same, but if it is a loving, tender, forgiving,
unselfish God, the worshiper will be transformed slowly,
wonderfully, into this likeness.”

What we believe about God is the cornerstone in the foundation of our lives. If we believe things that are not true about God, it will affect everything else we think and believe in life; however, when we believe the truth about God, it becomes a beautiful lens through which we can properly see ourselves and the world around us.

There are five major areas of concern when it comes to what we believe about God: Is God really good? Does God really love me? Is God really enough for me? Are God’s laws really that important – or even relevant? Is God really in control?

HITTING THE RESET BUTTON

I think it’s safe to say that no one intentionally chooses to believe that God is not good, that He is unloving, that He’s not enough for us, that His commands are meaningless, and that He’s not really in control. However, many of us are living as though those things are true. Subtle lies have crept into our thinking and have begun to affect the way we live. Therefore it’s necessary for us to take a step back and look at the evidence in our lives, look at God’s word, and ask Him reveal what’s true about Him and about us.

Our starting point is God’s goodness. If God is not good, everything else in scripture crumbles to pieces. If God is not good, our lives are meaningless. If God is not good, we have no hope in life, or in death. Everything hinges on this one truth of God’s goodness.

Instead of assuming that you already know and believe this truth, I would caution you and challenge you to consider if it’s possible that you have unintentionally fallen into the belief that God isn’t really good – or maybe that He isn’t really good to you.

You may not be in outright rebellion against God, but is it possible you find yourself struggling with resentment in your prayers, or even have stopped praying altogether?

You may not be openly arguing and accusing God, but is it possible you’re afraid of God – afraid of getting your hopes up, afraid He will hurt you if you ask for what you need and want?

You may not be quitting church or Christian fellowship, but is it possible you avoid certain people or topics because you find yourself envious of how God is working in their lives while you feel neglected by God?

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THE TRUTH ABOUT FREEDOM

2/22/2020

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“Ah, freedom.”

The thought that runs through our heads when we’re finally alone. When the project is finally finished. When we’re finally off work. When we’re finally on vacation. When we’re finally able to do what we want. For different people, different circumstances cause us to breathe out that sigh of relief.

Each of us has our own ideas about freedom. If you’re anything like me, in spite of the short-term instances of relief you occasionally experience, freedom is an elusive dream that you’re always chasing.

If I can just get through one more week, I’ll be free.

If I could just find a different job, then I’d be at peace.

If I could just break this one habit, I’d be okay.

If I could just have this relationship squared away, then I’d feel better.

If I can somehow find a way to make more money, I’ll be set.

But the week comes and goes, and I still feel restless, the new job has its own set of problems, the habit just won’t go away, the relationship is never perfect, and the money is never enough.

LIFE TO THE FULL

JOHN 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The imagery Jesus uses when He speaks these words is vivid – “life to the full.” Abundant life. Life that has richness. He’s not speaking about life in a biological term – He’s speaking of a quality of life that is higher than we are able to experience on our own because it comes only from Him.

Many of us would use words like frazzled, frustrated, overwhelmed, stuck, defeated, fearful, insecure, lonely, confused, burned-out, or discouraged to describe our lives. I know I’ve used those words many times, even in the last few months. In contrast, Jesus offers us abundant life. Life that could be described as peaceful, contented, gracious, loving, joyful, and free.

As you consider your current season of life, which list most resonates with you? Are you experiencing the abundant life and freedom that Jesus came to offer? Or is it possible that, like me, you’ve been attaching your peace and freedom to the wrong things and as a result, are experiencing discouragement over joy, frustration over peace, and bondage over freedom?

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Mary: A Devoted Woman

11/6/2018

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Faithfulness is a lost art in our culture of instant gratification. The same desires that make us impatient to get what we want when we want it cause us to give up on people when we find ourselves facing friction, conflict, and an inevitable struggle.

But what would happen if we, like Mary, determined to be faithful, to be devoted, through thick and thin, through good and bad? Much like the vows we make when we enter into a marriage covenant, God calls us to a deep and committed to relationship with Him. And while His faithfulness is never-ending, ours is fickle. That is why we must make great effort to be devoted to Christ not just when life is good and following Him is easy, but when life is overwhelming and giving up is easy.

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him." -James 1:12

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Mary: A Trusting Woman

10/30/2018

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Anyone here struggle with control? I know I do! Another amazing thing about Mary is that she was a trusting woman. She trusted God not only to work in her own life, but also in the lives of those around her. Even after Joseph decided to divorce her, Mary trusted God and waited for Him to intervene rather than taking matters into her own hands, becoming manipulative, obsessive, or controlling. Rather than trying to force those around us to believe God, we must each surrender and trust God to work. If God said it, He will do it! His way, in His timing. Let's have the faith to wait.

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Mary: A Woman of the Word

10/23/2018

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Luke 1:46-55 records for us Mary's beautiful prayer of thanksgiving to God. In it, she referenced Old Testament scriptures and stories more than a dozen times! This is striking when you consider that Mary was uneducated and likely illiterate. She was not able to read the Scriptures for herself - rather, she listened. And it's obvious that she listened intently, hiding the words of Scripture in her heart.

If we want to be godly women who can be used God, we must never underestimate the value of God's Word in our lives. Not only do the Scriptures convict us, encourage us, and direct us - they also equip us to pour into the lives of those around us. The more we know the Word of God, the more we can share the word of God.

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A Portrait of a Woman Used by God

10/16/2018

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Hello There! So sorry for my long absence... much of my summer has been spent wedding planning! Cameron and I were married on September 29th in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by our closest family and friends. We are so thankful! But I'll be sharing more about that later.

For now, I'm super excited to be launching a brand new video devotional series! For the next month, I'll be posting videos every Tuesday and Thursday where we'll dig deep into the life of Mary of Nazareth, an ordinary woman used by an extraordinary God! This series is based off the booklet by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth titled "A Portrait of a Woman Used by God."

Here's today's video:

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What Must Be Laid Aside

4/27/2018

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
(Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)

I find myself continually affected by the incredibly obvious truth in this passage. There's certainly quite a lot of truth in the passage, but what most continues to convict and excite me is the simplest line -- "let us throw off everything that hinders."

Interesting, is it not, that sin is addressed separately? That there are things that hinder us, which we must lay aside, that aren't even sin? Though, depending on how we treat the things that hinder us, they can quickly become sin through idolatry.

It's a simple question of priority.

If my priority, if my goal, is to not just finish the race, but to win the race, why would I hesitate to make whatever adjustments necessary to do so?

Some things must be sacrificed for the greater goal of victory.

Things like...

Entertainment. Could it be that I've begun to be too concerned with being entertained over being challenged?
Self-Defense. Am I trying to prove something? Or perhaps, am I trying to hold on to, through self-defense, what God is trying to deliver me from? How much time is wasted by arguing!
Peers. "Some friendships you cannot keep and be a Christian." -Tozer. Am I holding on to relationships that slow me down, or evens stop me? Distracting, weighing, overwhelming, hindering, tempting me into the world... It can happen so quickly.
Social Habits. It is entirely impossible to pursue Christ and fit in with the world at the same time. Which do my social habits match up to? Perhaps I'm being held back by how I spend my time when it's up to me.
Reading Habits. So many people are so affected by something as widely valued and respected as literature. But not all books are good for me. Could it be that I've made companions of books that cause discontentment, distract me from spiritual things, or reinforce the world around me? May I make only the word of God my constant companion.
Listening Habits. As with books, music is exceedingly powerful. Is what I'm listening to spurring me on or causing me to look around and focus on myself instead of my goal?
Personal Habits. Use of money. Eating habits. How I dress. The truth of the matter is that I cannot expect to be disciplined in running my race for Jesus if I am undisciplined in life.
Unblessed Plans. I must not get too concerned with my dreams and I must not obsess over money or success -- it is not about my plan. I entered a race that is designed by God and I must run his course, not my own. When I do, I always find such joy and peace. When I don't, I find discouragement, anxiety, and i quickly find myself stuck.

In the grand scheme of things, is there really anything worth holding on to? I think not.

How wonderful to be able to have the freedom to run to Jesus completely unhindered!

The consequence of all these things would be to block the work of God in your heart and in your home and in your church. You cannot afford to do it. Time is too short. Judgment is too certain. Eternity is too long. God is too wonderful, and Christ is too beautiful, and Heaven is too glorious for us to allow anything in our lives to hold us back from winning the race of life.
-A. W. Tozer

**What's your goal?**

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The Honest Struggle

4/21/2018

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I think it’s safe to say that we all know of an area in our lives that God is calling us to surrender to Him. And we all believe surrender is worth it. At least, we want to believe that. But still, we struggle. Surrender requires faith, and faith has to be exercised to grow. And so when the extra strain is placed on our faith, we can often falter, wrestle, and be tempted to collapse under the pressure.

And on top of the pressure we feel from the feeling of losing control, the fear of the unknown, and the struggle of wrestling with what we really believe about God’s nature and character is the horrible feeling of isolation and loneliness.

I have a feeling you know exactly what I’m talking about.

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THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S LOVE

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.”
C. S. Lewis

THE CHALLENGE OF LOVE

LIVING LIKE GOD IS GOOD: THE FREEDOM OF FAITH

HOW DO WE GET BACK?

STEP 1: THE RIGHT FOCus

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
-Isaiah 55:8

STEP 2: THE RIGHT EXPECTATION

LIVING LIKE GOD IS GOOD: THE STRUGGLE WE ALL FACE

the truth about god

HITTING THE RESET BUTTON

THE TRUTH ABOUT FREEDOM

LIFE TO THE FULL

JOHN 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Mary: A Devoted Woman

Mary: A Trusting Woman

Mary: A Woman of the Word

A Portrait of a Woman Used by God

What Must Be Laid Aside

Some things must be sacrificed for the greater goal of victory.

**What's your goal?**

The Honest Struggle

I have a feeling you know exactly what I’m talking about.

bethany HARRIS

Archives

Categories

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.” ​C. S. Lewis

THE CHALLENGE OF LOVE

HOW DO WE GET BACK?

STEP 1: THE RIGHT FOCus

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.-Isaiah 55:8

STEP 2: THE RIGHT EXPECTATION

the truth about god​

HITTING THE RESET BUTTON

​LIFE TO THE FULL

JOHN 10:10​The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

​Some things must be sacrificed for the greater goal of victory.

​What's your goal? ​

​I have a feeling you know exactly what I’m talking about.

bethany HARRIS

Archives

Categories

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.”
C. S. Lewis

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
-Isaiah 55:8

the truth about god

LIFE TO THE FULL

JOHN 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Some things must be sacrificed for the greater goal of victory.

**What's your goal?**

I have a feeling you know exactly what I’m talking about.