To the One who took my place...

First, let me just say, the post-writing area of Blogger looks way different from when I wrote my last post, so if something looks weird when you see this, I apologize. ;)


Anyway, God is really awesome. He teaches me so many things I would never ever have thought of on my own. The fact that God would care enough about me to speak to me and teach me like a child of His own is overwhelming. Most of the stuff I post on here is that sort of thing.


A few weeks ago in church, a line in a worship song we sang really caught me. I had sung the song many times before, but God wanted to teach me something again. Here's what I wrote in my journal:


"To the One who took my place..


When He died on the cross, Jesus switched places with me. He took off His holy robe, placed it on me, and took my place on the cross. Jesus was already torn up and beaten up by the world, and splattered by the world's grime and dirt - He did that so I didn't have to. He wants me to take the place He gave me, as a child of God, in his holy, white, pure robes. I have no part in the things the world does - He took the dirt of the world so that I may live to be clean. The robes that He gave me are as white as snow!


Lord, please let your Spirit work in me and help me live in the place you gave me."


Those are His words, not mine. Thank you Lord, for the things you teach me. Let your Spirit work in me and help me live in the place you gave me and the words you speak to me!

"... But You have freed me from my chains."

People have always been really excited about freedom. People have always wanted to be free; I guess it's just something innate to human nature.

The freedom side of being a Christian is exciting to me - knowing that I am free in Christ always gives me a huge sense of joy? Carefree-ness? Um..freedom? Yeah. I like being free. And I think God likes reminding me of my freedom.

A good, simple analogy of our freedom is that we were bound in the chains of sin, but God broke those chains off. However...sometimes, whether intentionally or not, I think we pick up those chains, and put them back on. God has made us totally free from His judgment, from sin, and from death, but I guess we tend to forget that, and see those chains laying on the ground..and sometimes can't resist picking them up and putting them back on. We forget that God no longer judges us, and that it's okay if we mess up. We forget how broad His freedom and love are. This isn't something new. Paul knew how that goes. In Galatians 5:1 he says, "So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Whatever restriction or burden we feel, it's self-inflicted. God has made us totally free from sin, and free from condemnation.

We deserve to be punished for our sins, but God took that punishment, and made us a part of his family. Sorry to bring us back to square one, but sometimes I think we just need to be reminded of the basics like that. I love Psalm 116:16 - "Oh Lord, I am your servant; yes, I am your servant, born into your household. [But] you have freed me from my chains."

Honestly, we deserve to be treated as slaves and servants, or even something lower than that. But because of His grace, God brought us way up, and made us His children. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, I'm not a slave in the household anymore. I'm a master, because my Father is the King.

So why do I keep subjecting myself to the chains of condemnation? Why do I keep reminding myself of my sin?

Admittedly, it's really easy to do that: to focus on the sin, and to tell yourself that you could do better. But you know what? It is finished. God already decided a long time ago that YOU would be His child, and nothing you do is going to change that.

That's freedom.

A person's a person no matter how small.

Why do I always have the need to blog when I feel a rant coming on? Maybe because blogging is just a way to get my thoughts out, or maybe it's because I feel like you need to know about whatever I'm angry about too. Anyway..I really don't want to rant right now, I want to pray.

Right now I'm writing a speech on a former abortion clinic director, and so I'm having to lightly research abortion, and I'm like..Seriously? How can so many people think this is an okay thing? Just go on Planned Parenthood's official website and you'll see what I mean. They proudly announce that they provide services that are "safe and legal", services that respect your rights, and that abortions are actually only 3% of what goes on at the organization. In fact, if you want to know exactly what kinds of abortions that are available, they'll tell you in a nice, neat little section on their website, describing to you what will happen during the procedure, always with the comfort of you, the patient, in mind. All the while totally ignoring (or maybe not realizing) what's really happening. All the while realizing that there are two patients in that procedure - not just one. But only one will walk out of that room alive.

What is going on with our culture!? I think we can talk about how sinful and evil it all is all we want, but in the end, that's only half of it. The other half is this: our culture is blinded. God has given everyone a conscience, but when that conscience isn't listened to, it gets quieter and quieter, until finally, it can't be heard. These people who think this is right aren't just lying to themselves: in my opinion, they honestly believe that this is right. But they are blinded. Father, take our blinders off!

Lord, wake us up. Open the eyes of our culture, of our media, of our country. Send a revival of life over us!

Another thoughtful musing.. (literally.)

I think too much. But it seems like everybody says that, doesn't it? Maybe we just all think too much.

Lately I've been reading about truth, and the knowability of truth, and different perceptions of truth, etc, and it made me think. And I thought too much.

The problem with my thinking is that I try to apply the thought to things I know and can relate to. (Like for example, I read that a + b = c? Okay so peanut butter + jelly = PB&J! Right?..okay, maybe not.) Reading secular authors talk about philosophy and religion and truth really throws me off. When they say God isn't real, I'm like, "I know God is real..but..wait..how do I know that?" and then that gets me all confused again and I start to think too much and the whole cycle starts all over.

(Note: to be clear, when this happens, I'm not doubting the existence of God; I'm more doubting how I know He does exist and I get worried that I won't be able to explain it to anybody if they ever ask.) I don't know. Maybe you don't deal with this. I don't constantly, but every so often when I'm reading the opinions of secular authors on God, or faith, I get a little bit uncomfortable.

So anyway, I was thinking (haha.) about all of this, and thinking about how powerful my God is, I remembered in the midst of all this that He created knowledge. He created truth. Actually, He IS the truth. Furthermore, He created all these people that tell lies about Him, and He knew they were going to come up with their crazy ideas and theories.

It's funny how when I'm struggling with something, God knows about it and takes care of it. Because I was mulling this all over in my mind, and God put 2 Corinthians 10:5 in front of me: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." I don't know if you ever struggle with this, but when I do, I have to put it in perspective and remind myself who I'm serving. I'm serving Christ, because He deserves to be served, and my tiny little mind isn't going to change that. "No doubt restrains the glory of our God." I may think, therefore I am (I do exist), but it certainly isn't the case that if I don't think, God isn't. You know what I mean?

It's so easy to forget we have an enemy, and that he is fierce. Satan does whatever he can to keep us from serving God or glorifying Him with everything. Jesus said to love God with our heart, soul, and mind. I think sometimes we forget that last part. Satan loves to confuse us and use what other people say to make us doubt God. We also have to realize that when we do doubt God, or think things that are not obedient to Christ, it's not always us. As I said, Satan is vicious. And he is able to plant ideas or thoughts in our minds. Even if it us, though, it's our sinful nature talking - not the Spirit. Our sinful selves are (obviously) sinful and not always true - but the Holy Spirit we have living in us is the very Spirit of truth.

If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit has put His truth in your heart. Don't let the enemy make you doubt that. Take that thought and make it obedient to Christ. You have the knowledge of God in your heart and mind - don't confuse that or replace it with the "knowledge" of man.

rant.

Okay, I gotta get this off my chest...

Why do people have to swear? I know that sounds naive, and I really do understand why. Sometimes the pain that comes from dropping something really heavy on your toe doesn't seem to be covered by a simple "ouch". But I think Christians, and people of influence, and especially people with influence who call themselves Christians need to be careful.

I admit, this is kind of directed to something I saw on Twitter: someone who claimed to be a Christian and who I thought was really cool randomly dropped an f-bomb. Um, what? Really? ...I guess what irks me so much is that blurting something out in the heat of the moment is one thing, but intentionally typing something out is quite another.

I know that swearing does not take away your "Christian card", and it doesn't make God love you any less, but it still bothers me. Maybe because when I see that, I think of this verse: "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." (1 Peter 1:15) We all sin, and none of us can be completely holy. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try, that we should just keep sinning because God loves us anyway. ("Why stop sinning, when he keeps forgiving?" If you haven't seen that video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOGlSQlMUSA)

Forgive me for ranting, but I think that our words are something we can control, to some extent. Especially our typed words, for goodness' sake. If you speak the same words and use the same vulgar language as the rest of the world, what is going to make you as a Christian any different from the non-believers around you?

Seriously. This doesn't just apply to our words, but all our actions: The church needs to WAKE UP and realize that we are not of the world!! So why do we keep trying? We serve a holy, spotless God: why would we want to imitate the trash of the world??

Argh. Lord, please wake us up.

Looking At The Heart

I know I don't post very often, but usually what happens is, I start writing something, then think it sounds stupid, and give up. It's ridiculous. Does anyone actually read this? Who knows. But even if no one does, my blog is still an encouragement and reminder to me: a place for the better parts of myself to encourage the not-so-great parts of myself when that part seems to be winning out. Does that make sense?

What I want to say today to you, or to me, or whoever, is: stop judging people by the outside. Easier said than done, I know.

But we, or at least I, do it so much without even realizing it, and it's so wrong. I categorize people immediately upon seeing them, and when I categorize, I assume things. That girl's makeup looks good? Obviously, she's secure about herself and I should feel inferior. That guy looks like a "homeschooler"? Obviously, he's socially awkward and needs my help.

Um. Seriously, Katie?

Yes. It's not always that extreme, and I don't always think these things consciously, but I certainly have judged people like that before.

Lord, forgive me. Thinking about this can easily make me depressed, but luckily, God doesn't leave us alone with these kinds of things. He has answers.

1. The first thing we have to realize when we're looking at our own judgmental tendencies (or any sin, actually) is that God loves us in the midst of them. In fact, He forgives us of them. Jesus' blood completely covers our sins, and we are fully forgiven. God is a lot more forgiving, and loving, than we give Him credit for! He doesn't just love us when we're being lovable. He loves us in our worst moments, as well as our best. (After all, what use would His sacrifice be if we were good all the time?)

2. The second thing we have to remember about God is that He understands why we do what we do. (Psalm 33:15 - "He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do.") God knows it's hard to be us, and He gets how easy it is to sin. He gets it. Men look at the outside and God looks at the heart, so we should too. But God also knows that looking at someone's heart from the outside is a difficult feat. In fact, it can't be done with our own eyes. So that's why we need God.

In the case of judging people, or any sin, victory can be attained, but it can only be attained with the help of the Holy Spirit. He wants to help us and has all the power to do so; all we have to do is ask! When we do ask, He always answers. Always.

So in the end, I am judgmental. I assume too much. And I think I know people before I actually meet them. But the God I serve looks at the heart, and He truly does know people. Lord, let me see through your eyes! This is my prayer. Is it yours?

2012.

Just a quick post..

This is my heart coming into the new year. Take all I am and mold me, Lord!

Paint Your Picture by Julie Meyer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TJtK79h2Go)

Pick me up like a paintbrush, God

Dip it in the colors of my life

Paint Your picture, Father

And fashion a heart that is wholly Yours

Take Your fingers, God

Master Potter Come mold the clay

Tell Your story

As You mold me

Fashion a heart that is wholly Yours

And write your name, write Your name

In the clay

And sign Your name, sign Your name

On the picture

Take all I am

Take all I have

I am Yours forever, forever