Beauty Beckons

 

I am not what most people would call a crafty or creative person. 

I like black and white, such as 2+2=4.

But the closer I draw to God, the more I am drawn to creative expressions,

such as art, music and poetry (though I still don't understand most of it).

Nature beckons me from my comfy, bug free, climate controlled environment,

to explore its wonders and beauty.

I see people in a new light and appreciate their differences.

Why?

Could it be that these stir within my soul a longing for something;

a longing for goodness and love; a longing for that for which I was created?

We were created for glory, in the image of the One who is love.

He is both logic and beauty.

He is our creator and our hero.

"For He rescued us from the dominion of darkness,

and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on the earth,

visible and invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -

all things have been created through Him and for Him."

Colossians 1:13-16 NASB

 



The Gift of Giving

"The Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:35)  "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7) If you have grown up in church, you have undoubtedly heard these two phrases over and over again.  Sometimes repetition can cause us to tune out or think they are just cliché's meant to get us to open our pockets wider.  And no doubt the abuses of some have contributed to this effect.  However, I know from personal experience that these are truths worth heading.  I have been both on the receiving and giving ends and it truly is more blessed to give!  I don't know if I can find adequate language to describe it, but their is a weight that comes with receiving, where as in true, humble giving there is a release of a weight and a freedom that causes the spirit to soar! 

It isn't about the amount given, as Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 8:12, "For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have."  "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." (2 Corinthians 9:8)  God will supply and multiply so you can be generous.  "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously will also reap generously" (2 Corinthians 9:6).  I have experienced this truth in my life as well.  As long as I keep my hands open, God continues to amaze me with His blessing and I get the privilege of watching it flow through my hands to others.

What I hadn't realized until today, as I was reading in 2 Corinthians 9, is that there are other benefits to giving as well.  First, verses eleven and twelve say that it not only supplies the needs of the saints, but it produces many thanksgivings to God.  And Psalm 69:30-33 says, "I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving.  And it will please the LORD better than an ox or a young bull with horns and hoofs.  The humble have seen it and are glad; you who seek God, let your heart revive.  For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise His who are prisoners."  Then in verse thirteen it says that this ministry of giving is proof of our obedience to the gospel and will result in them glorifying God.  And lastly in verse fourteen it says that those who receive will pray for us!

Giving really is a gift!  "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)NASB

What's In A Name: How I learned to appreciate my common name.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose,  by any other name would smell as sweet."

Famous words by Shakespeare, but is it true?   Does a name matter?  If a name doesn’t matter, then why do parents labor over what to name their children?  Why do actors and actresses so often change their names?  Why do we carve our names in trees and rocks, to be remembered long after we are gone? Why do we work and work to “make a name for ourselves”?  I have often been disappointed with my name.  It is so common that when I googled the birth records for Becky Smith, there were 30,000 of us currently living.  What will set me apart?  How will people know it is me? 

 

About  a month ago, as I was walking and listening to music, I heard these lyrics, “At the end of the day I want them to see that my heart looks like your heart”.  In that moment, my spirit cried out in agreement with the song.  I realized that when people look at me, I don’t want them to see Becky Smith.  I want them to see the face of Jesus reflected in me.  I don’t care if they remember me when I am gone, but I do want them to remember and love my Lord. 

God has been teaching me about my identity in Him .  God changed Abram and Paul’s names to signify His work in their life and Revelation 2:17 says, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”  So, one day I will receive a new name unique to me alone, but until then I believe my common name is no mistake; it is a gift from the God who loves me; a reminder that I live in the tension between what I am and what I will be. 

My glory is not in making a name for myself, but in being transformed into the image of Jesus, from glory to glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)  I praise God for my common name, as I understand a little more what it means to lose my life in order to save it. 

Living Water

My husband and I went camping this past week at a nearby state park.   It was a little precarious as we dodged falling acorns dislodged by squirrels high above in the tree tops, but we had a good time.  Do you think an acorn could kill a person if it hit them on the head from such a height?  At any rate, we hiked the trails through woodlands, along streams and around large rocks. 

On our last full day, we decided to take to the water and rented a canoe.  It was a beautiful day, sunny yet cool.  The water was clear, and the creek just deep enough to make it without having to portage.  I enjoyed watching the fish swim by and looking for any other treasure that might be hiding beneath the water.  What I found, besides a couple old tires, a coke can and a pair of sunglasses, was a lesson.

When we would go through the occasional rapids I noticed the rocks were prettier.  They were colorful.  I mentioned it to my husband and he said it was because the faster moving water kept them clean, unlike the rocks in the more stagnant water, which were covered with sand and muck.  I thought about how scripture calls us living stones (1 Peter 2:5) and Christ, living water (Jeremiah 17:13 & John 7:38).  We are like those rocks in the river.  If our faith is stagnant we become covered with the muck of the world, but if we submit to the living water flowing through us; to the Holy Spirit's cleansing power, we too will reflect the beauty that is within us; each of us unique in our making, but all reflecting the glory of our Lord.

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

Noises In The Night

My husband recently went away on a mission trip.  This left me home alone.  I was excited about the quiet time I would have during the day...the nights however, were another story.  Through prayer and the grace of God I made it through!  But why is it that our psyche can suddenly go crazy with all kinds of scary scenarios just because we are alone?  I don't know much about my psyche, but I do know a contributing factor...noises in an otherwise silent house.  With another person in the house making noise, you don't notice the peculiar noises of the house.  But once the comforting sounds of another are removed, suddenly every noise is new and suspect.  As I was pondering this phenomenon, I was struck by the spiritual application and the importance of times of solitude with God.

Life is busy.  Normally, there are many people to interact with and much noise to contend with.  Now, that is not all bad, but the noise of life can often distract us from the still small voice of God.  It is not until times of quiet that we can hear those new and peculiar sounds.  The sounds of the Spirit speaking to our souls; speaking Words of life.  We need to make time in our schedules for solitude with God; times to be still and listen. 

Be still, and know that I am God. - Psalm 46:10