Rest and Revival

"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength..." -Isaiah 30:15

Quietness, trust, stillness, peace, rest.

How simple these concepts are but I can lose a grip on them all too easily (especially being Type-A ;)

This break has been one of revelations and restoration that He knew my soul needed. I felt the need to write a few of them down and God had other plans as I sit here typing three hours later...May they shed a light for you. 

Break revelations:  

Subconsciously on a deeper level I think I  believe that God's love can be earned.  How simple the resounding noise in heaven rings that it is "by grace that you have been saved" when we have the ears and heart to receive it.

Productivity and efficiency can overwhelm and swallow up the beauty of the present. It can make us believe even for a second that it is human energy plus God that yields fruit when it in reality it is Christ alone.

Living life to please people will suffocate you. It never satisfy or fulfill like we trick ourselves into believing it will. It is only through living for the affirmation of Jesus will we ever be at rest. God is my judge and yours.

"For am I seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." -Galatians 1:10 

Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find the true self once lost.  Buried beneath the expectations of others, the condemning voice of the self, and the flurry of business lies the awakening heartbeat of God who longs for your revival of heart, soul, and being.  

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." -Matthew 10:39

Maybe the real reason people have a hard time seeing Him  in our world is not because He isn't there but because they were looking for a King they wouldn't recognize.  Are our lives, our words, how we spend our time telling of the King whom we love or are they telling of a driving force behind a striving life?  Are we living lives that are a window into the glory and heart of Christ?

"I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation." -Psalm 40:9-10

We maximize and minimize ourselves.

Inflating ourselves to more than we are pridefully, we also minimize ourselves to a worthless spec that could not be redeemed. Both of these lack the very core and truth of the gospel of grace and forgiveness. When we are not enough, He is. When our sin was large enough to swallow our lives, He gave us life and covered it. When we fall, Grace can pick us up.   Unbelievably weak by our own strength, we live by the power of God in Him. We fall, He rises.  

"For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we are also weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God." -2 Corinthians 13:4  

We serve a dynamic and wonderfully beautiful God but how often do we limit who we are as His light bearers? Do we box ourselves into one particular area of life that we label as our ministry and neglect to come to Him in prayer for other areas or strengths we have yet to have the eyes to see? How often we overlook the fact that merely being present in someone's life can proclaim the love of Christ to that one person. 

Ephesians 3:20 He is able to do abundantly more through us according to His glory. 

It is all too easy to project the image of who we want people to be onto someone when in reality this can suffocate the very growth the Lord is doing within someone to make them into who He is making them to be. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 In Christ you are a new creation. You are intricately crafted, fantastically unique, and designed to bring the love of Christ into this world but the soul sitting next to you may have a radically different call, way of being, and way to love this world than you do.  Choose to love and embrace that He will reach this world in ways beyond your comprehension through those around you, it's not up to you.

Love understands our pain. 
Understands betrayal, opposition, feeling alone, love, having to muster strength we don't feel we possess. He walked this life, took on flesh, and experienced the world as you and I do. I was struck to the core by this when I came upon a song called "Love Does". Brandon Heath sings, "Nobody knows why your heart is broken Nobody cries while your prayers are going up But Love does Nobody walks on the road you’re paving Nobody sees all the souls you’re saving Oh, but Love does." Nothing done for His name is ever in vain and to follow Him is to trust in the strength of His Spirit at work in you and in the souls of those around you. 

God can handle our burdens, our doubts, our hurt.
Pretending all is fine might fool even those closest to you but not Him. He is strong enough to handle your blatant honesty- whether you believe in Him and are doubting what He is doing or whether you are struggling to believe He is who He said He is.  He desires truth in the inward being (Psalm 51) even if that may mean coming clean before Him. Walking in the darkness of your own private bitterness or denial of old wounds withdraws yourself from true healing.
"If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all our sin." -1 John 1:6-7

Fear can steal our remembrance of what has already been done on the cross, what has been given to us in the Spirit, and the hope we have in Christ.  Fear can make us forget that ultimately the worst thing would be for someone to be outside of God's will not pursuing it. 

His sacrifice on the cross must be brought to the forefront of our minds daily in order for us to persevere and rest our lives in the hands of Love.  It is not God that changes but our "receptivity" to His love as Sara Young explains. We must pray for the eyes and heart to receive this unfading love coming down from the "Father of Lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." -James 1:17-18

His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22).

In His presence there is riches beyond compare (Psalm 16:11) and the healing hands of restoration. Every morning is the dawning of new insight and truth whether this comes through trials, joy, or a day of rest.  

Laying everything down at His feet is where you will find your revival.  

In surrender and yielding yourself to Him, He is faithful to answer.   The heavens will open with glory, healing, and fullness beyond compare.

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." -Malachi 3:10

  

Following Him, there is so much to learn. 

We will never "arrive" or ever have enough of this God.  To grow is to open our lives to be touched by more of His Spirit, His grace, and His refining truths. 

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." -John 16:12

Humility is found when we have the open arms to receive His grace. Shooting down your worth is a slap in the face to God who sacrificed Himself to die for and raise you to life in Him. It is fake humility to preach your shortcomings more than you preach the grace that saved you.

"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." -Acts 20:24

Growing older, we can lose the wonder and awe. 

We can loosen our grip on knowing the Savior, rejoicing in what He has done, and remembering the life-changing power in the name of Jesus. Amidst the worldly struggles, trials, and pain and even in the details of ministry or our faith, a hardened and bitter heart can be the poison of the spiritual life. We must put our minds fully set on the hope of Christ and heavenly things (Colossians 3:2)  It is only by grace that we delve deeper and maintain a hold on the promise.  Trust in Him to guard what you have been given each and every day and to grow up every way into Him.  

"O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you...Grace be with you." 

-1 Timothy 6:20. 

And finally, love. The only thing that matters is love at the end of the day. 

Love working itself out through faith 

Love being the melody behind the words you sing.

Love being the flame within your heart and the courage for you to stand.

Choosing to love Him first, love others, and sometimes the most difficult, to love yourself because you were worth it for Him to die for.

In His arms you will be tightly held to journey through the waves of life but you must choose to remain close to His heartbeat each step.  Love is longing for each of us to fall back into His arms  to return whether it is for the fifth time this week or for the every first embrace.  We all need a second chance, following Him already or not, and it is up to us to choose to set our gaze to Him and draw near for He is waiting. 

You are the beloved and precious child of the King of Kings and He longs to bring you the rest and revival found within His promise to love and keep you all of your days.

"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you." -Isaiah 30:18

"You are the hand that catches my fall
You are the friend that answers my call
You are my day, You are my night
You are my love and all of my life
You are the grace that covers my sin
You're everything the beginning and end
You have my soul, my heart and my mind
You have my love and all of my life."

-"Always Forever" by Phil Wickam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vXktjT98Q4 "Always forever" 

A Beautiful Rescue

Dimming the lights, it was time for a few moments of silence.

"If now is the time you are in need of a rescue, come to God with it."

And with that a few thousand people bowed their heads in prayer at a Christmas service in 2012 and I was swept backwards. Squeezing my eyes shut with tears forming in my eyes, I was swept back to my rescue moment.  July of 2011 on my last retreat, surrounded by a very similar darkened auditorium, my life was about to dramatically change.

It was time to release my clenched fists.

I knew in my heart that smiling through the deep pain within me would not heal me.  It might fool people or myself but I knew even deeper within my heart that I was crying out to be rescued although I had been too prideful to admit it.  Jesus was held at the most comfortable of distances, close enough that I could claim the label, but far enough away that my heart remained locked away and sealed for me to clumsily stitch up as I moved through my days seamlessly.  I claimed His saving yet I had continually tried to paddle with arms flailing in the opposite direction.  

I knew I needed a change but little did I know the Answer had been standing beside me all along.  The King of Kings, God of angel armies, Emmanuel, and my Savior had been there a long. Patiently waiting and watching over me from the moment that I entered this world--He longed to rescue me from the darkness and utter emptiness apart from His light.  He didn't want my money, my time on Sunday, for me to sell everything to the poor, or for me to have perfect attendance at youth group...He wanted my heart. And to give a heart would mean surrender of control...something most of us including myself are not fond of.  

But this was where I found myself on that retreat two months before I would step onto Hope College as a freshman. Resistant to change but the walls were closing in. The weight of it all was suffocating to any scrap of belief I might have had in myself. I couldn't believe myself worthy of having any type of significance or that I could belong somewhere. 

Yet isn't that the beauty of the gospel? Isn't this the magnified hope in the redemption we have received as children of the living God? Mere dust, unworthy, and ragged but despite all this our God, in His fierce and unfathomable love, chooses to reach down into the depths of humanity and blow His life into us.  Through His Son, Jesus Christ, we are now alive in Christ taking on His new life and adopted as sons and daughters to receive the eternal inheritance of His Kingdom (Ephesians 1:5).

Now on December 21st I slowly opened my eyes, the stage lights flooding my vision. Bill Hybel's words of the present echoed in my heart as he spoke. 

"I'll say this again, who in this room is in need of a Divine rescue? There is no depth He cannot reach down and pull you from."

I was in need of a Divine rescue on that night two years ago.

On that retreat, my heart cry echoed through the silence into the heavens and I believe it was then that my world began to change.  From the inside out, God began to transform, renew, and heal me through a personal relationship with the Savior. And I can tell you life has truly never been the same since.

My life at 19 years old is full and rich with wonderful people, a great family, and a good education, but above all of this stands the most important and highly cherished relationship with my Savior. Living and active, He is.  Constantly teaching, refining, revealing, and touching the depths of my heart with grace, mercy, and love--I will forever be changed. Seeking Him has revealed areas of who He is that continually blow my mind and press me to go deeper.  The joy of knowing Christ fills my heart and my eyes with the radiant hope of His name.  Talking about Him and spreading His glory has brought soul-filling joy inexpressible.  

After all, after this type of a rescue how could I stay silent about this?

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God." -Psalm 40:2 

He put a song of hope in my lungs too desperately beautiful and true to remain within the corridors of my own heart. 

It's not merely for me. My life is about making Him known to everyone around me. It's about letting out a song of praise and thankfulness for my Divine rescuer and hero who has changed my life in every way and is deserving of my praise.

It is about proclaiming the truth that there is a God whose love for you is as fierce as the grace. He died to free you from living this life for yourself or even for the sake of other people. Your life is meant to be His for it is placing your trust in Him where the world will be touched by the lasting impact so many of you long to make.

It is about preaching the truth that our God is alive. He died 2000 years ago but is now seated at the right hand of the Father and the reality of this truth changes everything for you, for me, and for this world. 

It is about revealing to this generation that they have something to live for!!! You have purpose beyond who you'll date next, your test grade, what party you can attend next, or your popularity and it is in your pursuit of Christ. 

I don't know who you are. You may be a random blogger, a Facebook friend I haven't spoken to in five years, or you may be someone I know quite well.  Whoever you are, I want you to know how dearly you are loved, how much you are cherished, how much you are worth in the sight of our God. I believe that you are reading these words for a reason and I pray you take them to heart. 

John Piper writes these words in "Don't Waste Your Life":

"Oh who will get in their face and give them something to live for..?" 

I am not going to get in your face but lovingly step into your path and interrupt your thoughts for a moment.

When the tally of your days is up and all is said and done---what did you live for? Did you find the meaning of your life or why you're here?  Did you invest your heart in the eternal and unshakable Kingdom of God and the relationship you were designed for? Did you spend your life giving people the life-changing eternal gift of Christ?  Did you allow doubts and pride to block you from surrendering to a beautiful rescue ?

You get one shot at life. 

Not two, not three, not four...but one. That means spending it on what will inevitably pass away and living in unbelief of our reigning God would be an incredible tragedy beyond compare.  Joan of Arc writes, "One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying." 

Breathe and meditate upon these truths:

You were born to behold glory.

You were born for a fierce Kingdom purpose.

Your voice has the potential to carry the weight of the King.

You were born to be adopted in a family you belong in.

You were made to walk with Him, to be loved by the Creator.

You were born to be loved.

You were created with a Divine plan in mind--to be rescued and swept into the epic story God is already telling.  To be brought to the knowledge of the most breathtaking and astounding love found in Christ alone that transforms and makes you into the symbol of Love the world is waiting for.

True freedom lies in surrender. 

It lies in surrendering that you can do this life on your own, surrendering a need to please everyone around you, surrendering societal expectations, and above all, surrendering to Christ. 

I write these words to you today knowing full well that it is not easy. 

It is not easy to cast aside the opinion of the world, your friends, your classmates, and even that inner voice that tells you this is too good to be true.  I know also that I need to get the point across that we are ALL in need of a Divine Rescue but beyond that, we need Christ to continue saving us from slipping, we need Christ's continue renewal and healing, and we need His strength to continue this journey of life. 

The beautiful truth and reality is that a Divine rescue is a call away.  He stands ready and waiting, unchanging and eternal, with arms open to receive you, His beloved child that He longs to know.

If you feel He has deserted you or left you to fight this life alone, I assure you He is right by your side. Not for one moment has He forgotten or left you to fight this life on your own.  Sometimes those seasons are to shape you and to turn you on your heel straight into His arms.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD0cvWImVjA "Not for a moment" by Meredith Andrews)

God's love is so incomprehensibly vast and deep.  If you doubt whether or not He cares for you look at the lengths He went to in order to send us our Savior.  

He chose to grant you the choice to be free in love. To choose a Divine rescue or the way of the world is yours to make, Love will come at your call.  

Romans 10:13: "For all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved."

I firmly believe God may be calling each of you into His arms whispering your name with a plan more breathtaking than you can dare to imagine. It's time to silence the world and your own doubts, He is speaking. 

"...you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off"; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:9-10

(Baptism day August 2010-).


"On the day I called You answered me and the hope in my soul increased.."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8-9uOwDObM "You are more" by Hillsong

"Love came down and rescued me. Love came down and set me free. I am Yours, I am forever Yours." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShxntTzMXtU "Love Came Down" by Kari Jobe.

"And I know that You have come down even if to ride upon my heart to remind me who You are.."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbSMfL5LuSo "You are for me" by Kari Jobe

Your Presence, Our Pursuit

Can I pour my heart out to You in Your presence?
In the strain of the present, the weights, the worry,
Outstretched wings of grace hide me and keep me.
Your heart can hold mine,
can steady the frantic pulse of my worries.
Your arms can sweep through the air and lift mine from the depths
to sing.

Beaming with a shine too magnificent to behold,
my heart is ignited, my face to shine the glory of my new life in You.
Joy? I never once knew it until I entered the presence of my King,
until I caught even a glimpse of Your gaze,
a touch of Your Spirit filling and consuming my soul.

Can I turn my gaze above?
Above the earth You reign in might and glory,
Lifting my scrambling feet from the sprint,
to fly in the freedom of grace and trust.

Placing mighty hands upon my shoulders,
I can rest inside the stronghold and fortress of my God
who goes before me.
With a fierceness and jealousy I will never comprehend,
You consistently battle for my life.
I need only halt my heart from being carried into the future
for it is in the present Your fullness is pleased to dwell.

Better is one day, one moment, one glimpse of the Kingdom.
Calling out to be known, Your presence to be felt.
To behold this for all of my days.
A promise made and sealed, a love confirmed.
I need only return to You to be restored double.

For your own sake, pour out Jesus
because You are worthy.
For your own glory, shine upon a desolate and weary land,
for all to taste and see this splendor I pray.

Can I pour my heart out to You in expectation of Your healing truth to restore and direct my steps?
Can I turn my gaze above to find Your gentle and fierce gaze looking upon me in love?

Faithful and just,

strong and true You are.

Love calling out to me on my knees.

Pouring unceasingly into a thirsty heart,

You lavish the living water that satisfies, 

that rushes over the cracks and dried bones and remnants of my old life.

Come and fill this heart, Jesus. 

You're calling out to be heard and You will not stay silent.

Lift our heads, spark our voices to sing to You, to seek Your presence.

Your presence is our pursuit, our heart cry

To make it known the prayer upon my lips from this day forward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwhUgCf3fTw "Pursuit" Jesus Culture