Thursday, March 01, 2007

Claims and Places

WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE IN ME
(Reuben Morgan)


LET THE WEAK SAY I AM STRONG
LET THE POOR SAY I AM RICH
LET THE BLIND SAY I CAN SEE
IT’S WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE IN ME

HOSANNA HOSANNA
TO THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN
HOSANNA HOSANNA
JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN

INTO THE RIVER I WILL WADE
THERE MY SINS ARE WASHED AWAY
FROM THE HEAVENS MERCY STREAMS
OF THE SAVIOR’S LOVE FOR ME

I WILL RISE FROM WATERS DEEP
INTO THE SAVING ARMS OF GOD
I WILL SING SALVATION SONGS
JESUS CHRIST HAS SET ME FREE


We sang this song on Sunday at church. It came into my head and I began to sing it a little while ago. It's a song of huge strength for me, because it speaks of how powerful His love is for us.

I was emailing with a friend this morning and I wrote these words... "A small light was that despite how everything has been, yesterday was actually a pretty good day. I was going through my serving seminar results and was also going through some scripture from the Bible study assignment our group was going to do. I came to a place of knowing deep inside that I will come through everything strong and I simply can't focus on the negatives any longer. I can't beat myself up because of the short-comings I might be portraying, but simply draw more from Him...knowing that eventually those short-comings might not be there, or at least nearly as bad as they are currently."

I guess I've also been trying to take personal inventory and this was a question I asked..."The last while as I've struggled, have I portrayed a bad walk or huge lack of faith?"

I think for me, the biggest fear I have is that I will portray God in a bad light, through how I deal with the trials in my life. I know deep within me, as a result of things which have happened in the past and just because of how I think, that I do have a strong faith. But my worry is, that if I have to continue to justify this in my mind, then am I being blasphemous to God on a daily basis? Am I falling short in my love and devotion to Him?

I am actually going to be claiming this song as a daily prayer for me. I want to make that conscious effort...to go to Him, to be in the river, washed clean to start the day and living each day in His loving arms. I know I'm saved because of His love and therefore, I know that I will be victorious...so will you.

I guess you could say that this post is simply the beginning of me being able to wrap my head around what God's speaking right now. It's the beginning of me digging deep within myself and pulling myself closer to Him. It's the beginning of trying to stomp the excess noise and lies of the enemy, which come into my mind daily. I guess you could say I'm accepting me for me and claiming myself for Who I truly belong to. Remember Day: 25: Transformed by Trouble from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren that I was talking about yesterday? This portion talks about life, problems and God's role in those. There will be more reflection to come on this chapter...it was the medicine I needed to take in this week. I am going to end with this passage from that chapter...

"God has a purpose behind every problem.

He uses circumstances to develop our character. In fact, he depends more on circumstances to make us like Jesus than he depends on our reading the Bible. The reason is obvious: You face circumstances twenty-four hours a day.

Jesus warned us that we would have problems in the world. No one is immune to pain or insulated from suffering, and no one gets to skate through life problem-free. Life is a series of problems. Every time you solve one, another is waiting to take its place. Not all of them are big, but all are significant in God's growth process for you...

God uses problems to draw you closer to himself...Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be in your darkest days - when your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you're out of options, when the pain is great - and you turn to God alone. It is during suffering that we learn to pray our most authentic, heartfelt, honest-to-God prayers. When we're in pain, we don't have the energy for superficial prayers.

Joni Eareckson Tada notes, "When life is rosy, we may slide by with knowing about Jesus, with imitating him and quoting him and speaking of him. But only in suffering will we know Jesus." We learn things about God in suffering that we can't learn any other way."
(The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren)

5 comments:

dwg said...

its nice to know that God sees Jesus in us. and i think too it's "real" to see someone struggle; and people appreaciate real lives of faith lived out with all of our ups and downs. have you listened much to natalie grant? i not much up with current christian music, but i heard here "held," and "grace"?) just recently and was really inspired by it.

Cinder said...

Yeah Christopher, it's really nice to know that He sees Jesus in us. I don't know what's been up with me lately...I know it's better to be 'real' rather than 'fake', but somewhere along the way I got some wires crossed. Mr. Cinder refers to me as trying to be Superwoman somedays...I want to be there for everyone in whatever capacity needed, sometimes with complete disregard to what's going on with me and my life at the time. I think sometimes it's an escape...to not have to face what's going on, but simply keep plugging along, oblivious to a lot of stuff.

I've heard of Natalie Grant and because we do get a Contemporary Christian station on our TV, I've probably listened to some of her stuff. I'm going to have to look those up though...they sound like they would be very inspiring!

Thanks so much for stopping by and for leading me to this music. Music's a definite connector and ground for me most days. Blessings to you and yours this weekend.

Gigi said...

I think for me, the biggest fear I have is that I will portray God in a bad light, through how I deal with the trials in my life.

He's got enough light I'm not sure He counts on us to be responsible for any light....I appreciate an honest journey, because that is what it is a journey and none of us is arrived yet....right?? loved this post......

audrey` said...

Dearest Jay

We need to spend some time with our Lord; to recharge ourselves =)

Please take care, dear sister.

Cinder said...

bjk, you make a really good point. i don't think we are to be responsible for any light, but simply to follow Him and allow Him to work and lead through us. All about Him and not about us!

Yeah, it definitely is a journey and I'm beginning to learn that the benefits truly outweigh the drawbacks in living a honest one.


Hi Audrey! Yeah, spending time with Him to recharge is definitely the right medicine and I need to be doing a whole lot more of it.

You take care too...blessings ;D!