I am so excited to be linking up with Write It, Girl each Tuesday in March, this is my first of those posts. What is Write, It Girl you ask…it’s a time to write whatever you’ve got on your heart! You just write it, girl. Here’s more from their about page:
“Write with confidence in your space; that little corner of the web He’s given you. Ask Him to give you a vision for what He wants with your words and write it, girl.”
I read Grace for the Good Girl* last year. It was truly amazing.Emily’s words touched my heart and reminded me that I need to give myself grace for all the times I place too high of expectations on myself and then fall short.
Why do I shoot for the moon? I know the quote by Les Brown, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars.” But, some days it’s too hard to keep aiming that high. I just know that I will fall short. And in real life, it’s not that easy to see the beauty in the “stars” that you land among.
I look at the blank pages where I had hoped a book proposal would be. I fell short.
I look at the sink overflowing with dishes. I fell short.
I look at my to do list at the end of the day, many tasks are left unchecked. I fell short.
I am tired of finding my identity in what I do and how well I do it. I am tired of this try-hard life where I am constantly striving. Here is some great wisdom from Emily*,
“Striving characterizes the law whereas rest characterizes grace.”
Ahhh…grace. The overwhelming, overflowing grace that comes from the Father. Why is it so hard to accept His grace and also extend some grace to myself daily? Daily…in the midst of life, messiness, and unchecked to do lists?
More wisdom from Emily (wisdom I should really write on my forehead in permanent marker),
“We already have the love and acceptance of our Father, so why do we try so hard to earn it?”
I have already received His grace, love, and acceptance through Jesus Christ. Why do I think that I need to continue to try to measure up when I will never be able to?
Some days I just don’t “get it.” I just soak in my failures and forget that in God’s eyes I am already forgiven for all. I am coated in Christ’s righteousness. I wonder if He is wondering if I’ll ever truly understand the reality of His gift of grace and really soak in it.
It’s like it’s a movie and you can tell that the main character is seconds away from the big realization that maybe the guy she was looking for was the one right in front of her the whole time…you are on the edge of your seat, a smiling wanting to peek through…waiting for the moment when it all just clicks.
Jesus is there, offering me grace for each day, for each failure, do I see it? I feel like I’m right on the edge, seconds away. Just outside of true understanding, true living in Christ.
Here’s a big “click” moment. I have memorized Psalm 46:10 before. Of course, I focused on the “be still and know” instead of the “I am God.” But, thankfully, Emily’s words below helped me to see just how skewed my thoughts and mind has been,
“God does not say “be still and feel like I am God.” He says be still, cease striving, make space…and know. Know it as sure as oxygen and gravity. We have a fortress, a refuge, a safe place. His name is Jesus.
In his name I can do all things, not with strength that comes from visible me, but with impossible strength from invisible him. He does not simply give me strength, he envelops and embodies peacefulness and strength in me and through me and around me.”
Click.
I really think the Lord was trying to pound this message into my heart until it clicked, which is exactly what I needed. I was burnt out on life and desperate to just take a breath and feel peace.
Some days I revert back to my old “good girl” life of trying to earn God’s acceptance and love. However, I am really yearning to live a life filled with more of His grace daily. Even when lists are left unchecked and dishes sit dirty while I sleep.
And for that self-induced guilt? I am trying to be more realistic and not shoot for the moon. I am trying to not fill my schedule to the brim but instead leave white space and margin to just be still. I am just trying to try not so hard.
So, are you with me? Are you ready to let go of this try-hard life and live and bask in the daily grace of God? I’d love some company!
*These links are affiliate links to amazon. You do not have to click through. But, if you do and buy something…I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you!
This is my first official year that I am trying and yearning to set aside these 40 days leading up to Easter as a special time and focus on my deep-rooted sinfulness, my great need for salvation, and Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.
Earlier this week, I finished reading Because He Loves Me. Even though I have finished reading this book, I could not get something from the book out of my head. You see…as I was reading, I was so struck by the opening of Chapter 9 (pg. 141). Maybe you can relate?
Walk in Love
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Please read the verses above and let me ask you a question or two. Without rereading it now, what do you recall about it? Are you more aware of what the verse is commanding you to do – to imitate God and to walk in love? Or are you more aware of what the verse says about who you are, a beloved child, or what Christ has done, loving you and giving himself up as an offering and sacrifice to God?
I am constantly not measuring up in my mind. I’m not as good of a wife as I’d like to be. I don’t keep my home well enough. I don’t write as much as I want. I don’t “grow my blog” like the pro bloggers say I need to do. I am constantly living in a state of self-induced guilt.
I read the above verse and yet again thought of all the ways I fail to imitate God. I fail to walk in love. I fail.
I am a sinner. It is deep-rooted in my heart. I was born into sin just as every other person has been with the exception of the first two created people, Adam and Eve who experienced life without sin (even though it was short-lived), and the One who lived perfectly perfect.
The One. Jesus Christ.
As soon as I catch myself sinking into the mire of self-induced guilt that has become common place in my heart, I contemplate the cross. I turn my focus away from me and my failure and onto Jesus Christ and His glorious wonderful work on the cross.
I don’t have to be perfectly perfect, because He was.
I will mess up, every day. He never messed up.
I sin. He lived a sinless life.
I need salvation. He made a way for salvation on the cross.
So, instead of sinking into the deep muddy waters of self-induced guilt and feelings of never measuring up. I embrace it. I turn to Him. I am not expected to measure up, I never will. But yet, He did.
I look at that verse again. I am a beloved child. I am loved by God.
p.s. I am linking up to my friend Jessica who is hosting a Lenten gathering every Wednesday of Lent. We are supposed to share thoughts on our journey to the cross during this special season. View more posts or add your post here.
Is theology just a topic reserved for men? For men who are attending Seminary? Men who hope to go into full-time ministry? Men who are faithfully preaching from the pulpit each week?
Or is knowing God and studying His nature and character something that all Christians, man or woman, seminarian or not, should be devoting themselves to? Passionate about?
As a seminary wife, I ask myself, is theology a subject that is reserved for my husband?
The answer: No!
Theology is not just for certain people.
Read this beautiful truth from the book Practical Theology for Women (written by Wendy Alsup, pg. 26, my emphasis),
“If you know Christ as your Savior, you have the same Holy Spirit residing in your heart, the same Word of God at your fingertips, and the same access to the presence of God as the wisest and most godly spiritual leader you know of today. It’s a copout to leave the deep things of God to the pastors and seminary graduates when, in Christ, we have the same access to God that they do.”
Women, we need to realize that we are limiting our potential to further God’s kingdom when we limit our knowledge of the Creator and Lord of the universe!
What we believe about God and His character affects our daily life. Knowing God makes a difference in our lives. Our beliefs affect how we respond to the situations we are placed in throughout our day. How can we approach our circumstances and situations with a biblical worldview if we are not continually growing in our knowledge and passion for knowing who God is?
To live wisely in today’s world, we need to know God! We need to know who He is and what He has done. We also need to know what He is doing and what He is going to do!
She knows her Bible, and she knows her theology of the sovereignty of God, and she knows his promise that he will be with her and help her strengthen her no matter what. This is the deep, unshakable root of Christian womanhood. And Peter makes it explicit in verse 5. He is not talking about just any women. He is talking about women with unshakable biblical roots in the sovereign goodness of God—holy women who hope in God.
To be holy women we must place our hope in God! To place our hope in God, we must know who He is! To place our hope in God, even in the face of trials and sufferings, we must know and live out our beliefs daily in every aspect of our life.
To live in this life as a Christian woman, I need to know theology.
As a homemaker, I take the responsibility of creating a place of refuge and security very seriously. I take on frequent opportunities to open our home to extended family and strangers alike. I want them to find love in our home. I want to give them comfort and rest. I want to serve them.
It is easy to be overwhelmed and weary by the, sometimes, mundane tasks of managing a home. However, we are building centers of evangelism, each one of us! We are creating, within our four walls, a place where our family and outsiders can come to find refreshment and nourishment and love!
How can I truly love others, through my home, if I don’t know the depths of the love that God has for me?
As a future parent, I have a great responsibility to train up my children and teach them the things of God. As parents, we have the unique opportunity to show our children what it looks like to live out your faith day by day, in public and private. Are you showing them daily that God is faithful? That God provides? That God is worthy of our trust?
When I am blessed with children, I want to raise them to know God. How can I teach them about who God is, if I, myself, do not know Him? How do I teach someone about what is means to be justified by faith alone, if I do not understand what that means? How do I show my children these truths if I do not live them out daily?
How can we teach our children the things of God if we do not know them ourselves?
As a wife, I am a partner in life with my husband and together we help each other to grow in godliness. I love the question that Gary Thomas poses about marriage, “What if God designed marriage to make us holy instead of happy?” What does this look like in real life?
When you and your husband are in the midst of an argument, are you quick to become bitter and harbor feelings of anger and resentment? Do you struggling with showing your husband respect, in public or private? Do you trust in your husband and more importantly, trust that God will guide him and direct him to lead you and your family?
How can we truly trust our husbands unless we truly trust God and know that His plans are for our ultimate good?
As a woman, when I am struggling with the aches and pains of this world, I can take comfort in knowing that God is my portion and my strength. It’s a difficult balance. It is facing the reality of suffering and struggles with your eyes focused on eternity. It means realizing that this world leaves us thirsting for more, thirsting for Him, thirsting for eternity.
This world is not our home. We are sojourners here. We have a day to look forward to when we will see Jesus face to face. One day, we will take our last breath here in this tainted world and our next breath will be our first breath in the presence of our Lord.
How can we keep our eyes on eternity if we don’t know the wonderful promises that God has given to us about our future glory?
Knowing God is important for all Christians.
Not only are we wives, mothers, homemakers…we are also theologians!
So, you wanna know what that something is that I’ve been doing?
It’s really not a secret.
I’ve been reordering my life!
It all started one night at my SWI class. The topic was time management. I knew that I wasn’t doing well with this, but oh boy! I didn’t realize how badly I had let my priorities get out of order. I was focusing on things that weren’t important and letting the important things slip to the side, left undone.
During class, I had my eyes opened. God used Mrs. Jodi Ware to speak to my heart and let me see where I was falling short.
I have noticed BIG differences! As you can tell from above, many of the things I want out of life, I have been getting! Even some things that I have been wanting to do (like dreaming…).
Once I started to prayerfully consider my current roles in life and what my priorities are within those roles. I started planning habits that reflected those priorities and roles.
Doing these tasks, I have noticed the major change has been in my heart and mind.
Now I am not living aimlessly thorough life, I am on the journey of living intentionally!
Intentionality is a mindset, it doesn’t come naturally. We must cultivate this spirit in our minds and heart. We must decide not to let the world or the demands that come in front of us control our life. Instead we control our life by the leading of the Spirit and by our ordering our life by our priorities.
I am still learning, but I already see the fruit of my labor.
I had the honor of meeting Holley Gerth at The Relevant Conference last year. She has a soft and gentle voice. She looks you in the eyes and gives you her attention. She has a way of making you feel welcomed and encouraged just by her presence.
Holley’s most recent book, God’s Heart For You, portrays Holley’s heart and attitude perfectly. I felt as if instead of reading these pages I was having a conversation sitting across from Holley with her words whispering Biblical Truths into my tired heart.
It was a truly beautiful thing!
As I read through the pages of this book I was reminded of characteristics that describe who I am as a woman of God, I am loved, redeemed, strong, heard, supported, and more!
When I first heard of Holley’s book it was through this beautiful video,
I pondered the question for myself. Then I posted this picture on the facebook page,
In God’s heart I am secure. Nothing can pluck me from His hands. Nothing can separate me from His love. I am His.
In God’s heart I am…
I received the book, God’s Heart For You, along with a couple of magnetic bookmarks (which are really spiffy) for the purpose of this review from DaySpring as part of their monthly (in)spired deal! You can snag a copy of this awesome book from Blessings Unlimited, DaySpring’s home party business (think Pampered Chef of Christian home décor). All products are sold through independent Consultants. You can visit Blessings site to view the full Catalog, learn how to host a Gathering, or even start your own business.
I am so excited to be linking up with Write It, Girl each Tuesday in March, this is my first of those posts. What is Write, It Girl you ask…it’s a time to write whatever you’ve got on your heart! You just write it, girl. Here’s more from their about page:
Theology.
