I have just a couple minutes but I want to thank-you so much for your prayers and continued email. God is doing such unexpected work in me and I am learning every day that the most beautiful place I can be is the place of utter dependency on God. Wherever that place is I want to be there. Right now it is here at New Hope. Daily I am reminded of my dependency on God; that through no strength of my own am I surviving... by his grace I am thriving.
The ministry here is exciting, exhausting, uplifting, humbling, frustrating... it takes all of me and then when I have nothing left demands more.
I Kings 19:7 has become so personally powerful to me here. In the passage Elijah tells God that he has had enough, he is tired and drained and wants to give up. He has no strength to carry on. In response to that God sends an angel of the Lord to Elijah and the angel says, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." In his perfect providence God brought Elijah to the end of himself so that he would be forced into utter dependency on God alone. And at that death of self, God provided the strength to go on.
Here he has provided me with a tough journey that in myself is too much... but in his grace he has also provided such strength and provision... and I see it most when I am at my lowest points (with the kids, the ministry, my selfishness, God breaking me...) there he touches me and says, yes, it is too much for you... go on. And with no strength of my own his strength raises me up to keep on going.
I hope you find yourself in this strength. It is the most beautiful humiliation to be so dependent on God.
Brittany: Dependent. What a wonderful place to be in. The corollary is obedience. And your willingness to depend and obey certainly is evident. Thanks for sharing these encouraging words.
ReplyDeleteHi Brittain. Your the bestest roomate ever. Hooray for Chi-town. And cold weather. Yah for dependence in God.
ReplyDeleteBritt,
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter Sunday to you! He saved us and joyfully we walk day by day knowing that He is good!
I saw your sis and mom today in church. Brian and I spent sometime talking with them.
Hope that you are doing well.
The wedding date is set for January 13th, 2007. Our second round of counseling starts in June going through until August.
Love you,
Juls
snirt, snirt, snirt...
ReplyDeleteI MISS YOU!
just under 2 months now! haha just wait till you get home and there arent beetles trying to nestle into your sleeping bag at night...im sure youll miss it! ;)
much x's and o's...
MEEEEEEE
are u a whore?
ReplyDeleteOk, at first I was a little offended, maybe a little hurt... but honestly, I appreciate the question because it gives me a sweet opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI read Hosea last month and found myself weeping over the passages. The symbolism of Israel as a prostitute/ Gomer and God's love as displayed by Hosea is incredible and cut into my heart.
In the world's definition I have never been a prostitute or whore, but in the defining words of Hosea I have. Many times I have turned away from Christ and "chased after other lovers", many times God must have said, "but me she forgot."
By Christ's cleansing blood I have been brought into covenant with him as a bride to the groom,Hosea 1:16 says, "In that day you will call me husband." So, essentially, breaking this covenant labels me a whore. Beyond that heavy label there is beauty in the ashes.
Still God desires me even seeing my unfaithfulness, still he leads me to him and speaks tenderly. He loves selflessly and abundantly.
Hosea 14:4 says it this way, "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely..."
Christ's sacrifice has cleansed me, healed me and made me pure. Once a prostitute I have been made the bride of Christ.
Ephesians 5:25, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy..."
It's a sweet and awesome redemption.