her righteousness shines out like the dawn

watch this. then watch it again.
especially if you are a woman. or if you know one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA

"Most especially, Satan hates Eve, because she is captivating, uniquely glorious, and he cannot be. She is the incarnation of the Beauty of God... The Evil One also hates Eve because she gives life. Women give birth, not men. And they also bring life into the world soulfully, relationally, spiritually... Eve incarnates the Beauty of God and she gives life to the world. Satan's bitter heart cannot bear it."
-Captivating

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
The nations will see your righteousness,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
No longer will they call you Deserted,
or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah, [my delight is in her]...
for the LORD will take delight in you...
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so will your God rejoice over you.
-Isaiah 62:1-5

"Every song you love, every memory you cherish, every moment that has moved you to holy tears has been give to you from the One who has been pursuing you from your first breath in order to win your heart...He wants to be known as only lovers know each other. He wants intimacy with you. He longs for you... He wants your deep heart, that center place within that is the truest you. He is not interested in intimacy with the woman you think you are supposed to be. He wants intimacy with the real you."
-Captivating

Conversation with God...

Sometimes God speaks through his Word, sometimes through others, sometimes through a song or a book, sometimes in nature, sometimes in a still, small voice. This conversation is a combination of a few of those things, and has been about a week in the making. When I started writing this I couldn't figure out why it wasn't exactly coming together, and now I understand why. Because God's timing is always perfect.

Well I thought I knew what You were doing, but now I'm totally confused...
Will I not create, and will I not have it in my power to destroy? Is it not written that the potter breaks one vessel that he may shape a new one? (1) I am in control, and I know best. The pot I was shaping from the clay was marred in my hands, so I formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to me. (2) I started this work in you, and I will not abandon you in the mess. You can trust that I am faithful to finish what I began, to my glory. (3)

I know that my confusion comes from failing to totally trust you, and my tendency to take things into my own hands. I feel like I will never learn...like I'm not getting anywhere, and nothing has changed.
If anyone is in me, she is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (4)

But this doesn't make sense to me right now...where are you going with this? Can't you just give me some small idea of what is to come?
Be humble and patient. I am nearer than you think, and I will do more than you expect. I will accomplish my purpose, though my purpose may be entirely hidden from you. (5)

But why can't it just happen now? Wouldn't that be easier??
If I removed you from the scene, you would have no testimony of my miraculous delivering power. Stay beneath my wings, and I will make you a tower of strength to which the fearful may run and find safety. (6) And don't even think about wasting your time thinking about what might be, you will only miss out on all I have for you right now. It will all come to be in my perfect timing. Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again...whoever watches the wind will not plant, whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in the mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things...for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. (7) Trust me. Rest in me. Wait on me. In these things I will bless and multiply your efforts.

(1, 5, 6) Come Away, My Beloved
(2) Isaiah 43:2
(3) Philippians 1:6
(4) 2 Corinthians 5:17
(7) Eccelesiastes 11:1, 4-5, 6b

onething

pretty excited about this going down sept 27-29.

and, a couple emilies and a megan might be making an appearance here...

LOVE one another

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
- John 13:34-35

“Love keeps no record of wrongs…it always hopes, and always perseveres.”
- I Cor. 13:5, 7

I discovered two things after returning from a mission trip to Toronto this summer. First, when you tell someone you just traveled to Toronto, they will inevitably respond with, “Canada, eh?”, thinking they have just uttered an exceptionally clever response. More importantly, I began to realize that I have much, much more to learn about what it means to truly love others.

It started for me one evening while we were on what was called a “sandwich run,” essentially handing out bag lunches on the streets. Early on, a man from the organization we were working with greeted someone he recognized by saying, “How are you, brother?” After talking for a minute, the man asked for a cigarette, and I was I bit surprised to see our leader readily provide him with one. Was it really a good idea to feed such an unhealthy addiction in a man who was clearly already under the influence of other things? Food was one thing—but a cigarette? I almost missed the grateful expression on the man’s face, and the fact that the relationship between these two men was being strengthened through this simple act of love. Later on, I realized our leader did not attempt to judge what this man did or did not need—he simply heard the request, realized his ability to grant it, and did so out of care for another.

Later on in the trip, a local pastor shared with us a story about a homeless friend—a word he used with unexpected and refreshing regularity—who survived by stealing. He knew about this friend’s actions and had even witnessed him scamming others, yet he did nothing to stop it. I was shocked. How could a pastor know about this and not do anything? Come on, it’s even one of the Ten Commandments! How could he hang out with this guy? (Guess I forgot about that new command that Jesus gave. Love one another. Three times in two verses—I think He means it, folks.) The pastor went on to say he knew the best way, or only way, to truly love his friend is to love him just as he is, and to see him through until he figured out a better way to get by. He didn't just give up on this guy as a thief and a lost cause, he kept the relationship alive and the door open, regularly spent time with him. He called this man his friend. Whoa.

Jesus didn’t just call us to love people if we agree with them, or when their actions make sense to us. We are not called to serve others based on our own ideas of what they need or expectations of who they should be. Others will truly see love, and feel love, when we give it without condition or expectation—just as Christ did. Jesus didn’t say, “You’re a tax collector? Ok, well just stop cheating people and we’ll have dinner sometime,” or, “A prostitute? Well, that’s pretty messed up. Get yourself together and then we’ll talk.” He called them “brother” and “friend” (check out Matt. 26:50 for another “whoa” moment), and invited them into relationship just as they were. And, amazingly, he does the same for a sinner like me, even when I have taken it upon myself to judge others when I have been called only to love them.

***

note: I actually wrote this for next month's church newsletter, but wanted to open it up to a broader audience as well. comments welcome...