Yes, sometimes it is very scary to say we want to follow after God completely. For the minute we do this- little scenes of possibilities start flashing before us. A dirt hut. A life of poverty. Some kind of horrible tragedy to test us. A health crises that pushes us to the brink. Loss. Pain. Extreme sacrifice.
Satan says, "Look at all you'll have to give up. And there is no guarantee that Jesus will come through for you. None at all. Don't take this Jesus thing to seriously- lighten up.
Jesus says, "Look at all you have to gain. My love for you is so completely consuming, I can only have your best interest in mind. Make me the the center of your heart- and you will light up the world."
It's kind of like a little seed in a seed packet. The little seed likes living in the seed packet. The seed packet is safe and relatively nice- a little plain but nice nonetheless.
Then one day the farmer comes and plucks the seed out of the seed packet. Suddenly, it is pushed down into the deep, dark messy place. The seed cries out, "Why have you done this? I like being a seed in a seed packet. I don't want to leave the other seeds in the seed packet. Why do they get to stay in the seed packet. This is not fair. This is horrible. My life is bad."
Then horror of all horrors, the farmer pours water over the deep, dark, messy place. So much so that the seed starts to break apart and life as he knew it slowly slips away. The seed cries out again and again but the farmer seems cruel and silent. "Why? Why me?" seems to be the only thing the seed can utter over and over again.
But then one day this green shoot burst forth from the ruins of the seed and pushes up through the deep, dark, messy place and into the glorious light. It grows and blooms and becomes all that it had the potential to become.
Now, think about that farmer. Was he mean and cruel? Or was his love for that seed so consuming that he could only have the seed's best interest in mind?
I would love to be so amazingly smart as to be able to pontificate the deep truths of Scripture while wielding about the Greek, Hebrew, genealogies and eschatology. But alas I am a simple country girl sitting on 12 acres of land with a husband that I love most days, 5 kids that make my heart swell with joy one minute and make me feel like throwing dishes across the kitchen the next, and 2 dogs that can do no wrong.
I am not a theologian, psychologist, or doctorate of any kind. I am a simple, often silly woman, who has fallen madly in love with Jesus. I am a woman who dared to utter one simple little word that shifted my heart and set my soul on the adventure I was designed to live---"Yes."
All I have when looking to show the world that Jesus works is my one little "yes" and a story of what happened when an ordinary woman dared to utter it. And it has been enough. "God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe," (1 Corinthians). Somehow, it has been enough.
So back to that hut and pain and loss and all those things we fear so much when contemplating complete surrender to God. There have been sacrifices for me. But the blessings of experiencing God have so far outweighed any thing I have given up.
I am still fully me. Silly. Goofy. Loving 80's music and doing the MC Hammer much to the complete and utter embarrassment of my children- me. Just a more settled and joyous and fearless and abundantly satisfied me.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the outpouring of comments from my New Year's Day post. I am blessed, challenged, encouraged and thrilled to see how God is obviously moving in so many hearts. As I write this new book, I'd love to have your comments woven throughout. But I would never do this without your permission. If you have a blog linked to your comment, then I can easily contact you when you post something I'd like to use. But if you don't have a blog, then will you put your e-mail address in your comment?
And don't let this paralyze you into trying to craft just the right comment. Speaking honestly from your heart is the best kind of comment there is! I am so excited about taking this writing journey with you. Oh, and we'll certainly make plenty of pit stops for silly fun along the way. You just never know what you are going to get when you open up my blog~
Satan says, "Look at all you'll have to give up. And there is no guarantee that Jesus will come through for you. None at all. Don't take this Jesus thing to seriously- lighten up.
Jesus says, "Look at all you have to gain. My love for you is so completely consuming, I can only have your best interest in mind. Make me the the center of your heart- and you will light up the world."
It's kind of like a little seed in a seed packet. The little seed likes living in the seed packet. The seed packet is safe and relatively nice- a little plain but nice nonetheless.
Then one day the farmer comes and plucks the seed out of the seed packet. Suddenly, it is pushed down into the deep, dark messy place. The seed cries out, "Why have you done this? I like being a seed in a seed packet. I don't want to leave the other seeds in the seed packet. Why do they get to stay in the seed packet. This is not fair. This is horrible. My life is bad."
Then horror of all horrors, the farmer pours water over the deep, dark, messy place. So much so that the seed starts to break apart and life as he knew it slowly slips away. The seed cries out again and again but the farmer seems cruel and silent. "Why? Why me?" seems to be the only thing the seed can utter over and over again.
But then one day this green shoot burst forth from the ruins of the seed and pushes up through the deep, dark, messy place and into the glorious light. It grows and blooms and becomes all that it had the potential to become.
Now, think about that farmer. Was he mean and cruel? Or was his love for that seed so consuming that he could only have the seed's best interest in mind?
I would love to be so amazingly smart as to be able to pontificate the deep truths of Scripture while wielding about the Greek, Hebrew, genealogies and eschatology. But alas I am a simple country girl sitting on 12 acres of land with a husband that I love most days, 5 kids that make my heart swell with joy one minute and make me feel like throwing dishes across the kitchen the next, and 2 dogs that can do no wrong.
I am not a theologian, psychologist, or doctorate of any kind. I am a simple, often silly woman, who has fallen madly in love with Jesus. I am a woman who dared to utter one simple little word that shifted my heart and set my soul on the adventure I was designed to live---"Yes."
All I have when looking to show the world that Jesus works is my one little "yes" and a story of what happened when an ordinary woman dared to utter it. And it has been enough. "God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe," (1 Corinthians). Somehow, it has been enough.
So back to that hut and pain and loss and all those things we fear so much when contemplating complete surrender to God. There have been sacrifices for me. But the blessings of experiencing God have so far outweighed any thing I have given up.
I am still fully me. Silly. Goofy. Loving 80's music and doing the MC Hammer much to the complete and utter embarrassment of my children- me. Just a more settled and joyous and fearless and abundantly satisfied me.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the outpouring of comments from my New Year's Day post. I am blessed, challenged, encouraged and thrilled to see how God is obviously moving in so many hearts. As I write this new book, I'd love to have your comments woven throughout. But I would never do this without your permission. If you have a blog linked to your comment, then I can easily contact you when you post something I'd like to use. But if you don't have a blog, then will you put your e-mail address in your comment?
And don't let this paralyze you into trying to craft just the right comment. Speaking honestly from your heart is the best kind of comment there is! I am so excited about taking this writing journey with you. Oh, and we'll certainly make plenty of pit stops for silly fun along the way. You just never know what you are going to get when you open up my blog~
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