The all wonderful me!
Have you ever noticed how some people always seem to be in a state of difficulty or crisis? Every time they turn around something else falls on their plate. Just when they think they will have time to breath, they are hit with another issue. Regardless of the situation, they always seem to have something more to face.
Some these people struggle through the day, and deal with each situation with grief, anger, and burden. They withdraw, become depressed, and suffer with the “why me’s” and “it’s not fair”. No matter how hard they try, it seems that defeat is always in their hearts. Others however, respond so differently. No matter what hits them, they have a smile on their face, and they get ready to tackle the day ahead. Sure, they may get discouraged, feel frustration, or even fear, but they face with it with a confidence that is admired. You will never hear them complain, and can usually count on then for a positive spin regardless of how bleak the outlook.
Why does this happen? Why do some struggle so much, and others seem to fly through things with ease. I used to believe that some people were just chosen by God to have easy lives. I even went so far as to think that these people were weak, and so God would only trust them a little. You know the expression from Mother Teresa: “God won’t give me more than I can handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much!”, well that has been my motto since I was 15. I used to use it everywhere as a way of explaining, to myself that things happened to me for a reason, and that it was my “burden” to bare.
I believed that God put the all wonderful “ME” into the path of others, because I was the only one willing or capable of fixing or handling things. “God needs me there”, I would think to myself! So strong was that belief, that I would begrudgingly take whatever task presented itself, and then lament: “ Why do I have to do this? Sigh, this is my job from God, so I can’t fail, I can’t give up, cuz I don’t want to disappoint the big Guy, I mean really, he had his son crucified for me! How can I say no to that? Fine God, I’ll do it, but at some point you have got to make things easier for me here!”
The worst part of it all, is that I became resentful, because I felt that the “workload” should be distributed equally, and far too many people had it WAY too easy. What gives God?
Not once, did I ever really invite Jesus to the table. Not once did I actually ask for help. Instead, I complained, whined, and got pissed off. Sure I would pray, but it was usually more of a demand, like asking for a break, money, or something else I felt I deserved. Heck, I thought myself to be saintly, for all that I had done! And yet, I knew that I was no saint, and I had nothing over others.
I have recently started to realize something in my life. All the people I thought I was supposed to carry, were actually placed there for me, not the other way around. Many of the issues that I handled were training for this exact moment. The situations sometimes broke me, but without that brokenness I would have never searched for Jesus in the first place. It is because of all the situations that have, and continue to occur, that I have found a peace and tranquility that I never knew existed. God was simply waiting for me to ask.
Finally I think get it. It’s not that others have an easy life, or that they are weak. Maybe it’s just that others have found the relationship with God that we all yearn for, through honest communication and an open heart. Situations occur to everyone in life. How you handle it, will completely depend upon your Faith and attitude. Today I realize that any task, great or small is always easier to handle, when I give up control, and look for guidance. I ask Him for help, and that incredibly, gives me the Strength to go on. I think I am finally starting to understand prayer. It’s not that God trusted me, it’s that God wants me to trust Him!
With just a Sling and a Stone
A few weeks back, I was completely discouraged. I was on my way to work- unsure if I would be able to make it through the day. There was so much going on. Clients, family, health issues, I felt an incredible burden in my heart. I just didn’t feel like I had the strength to continue. I wanted to stay home, crawl into bed, and hide from my life. Like a robot, following orders, my body contradicted my thoughts, and began the preparation required to walk out the door. I tell you, it is never easy to apply make-up when tears keep coming to surface. I did the best I could, threw my hair into a pony tail, grabbed my keys and purse, and walked out of the house.
Every morning on my way to work, I follow a ritual of sorts. First, the Radio goes onto CHRI (a Christian Radio station), then I stop at the local gas station for coffee. I’ve been doing this for quite some time now. I’d be lying if I said I loved the radio station, because, well, most of the time, the music is just not what I am into… at all! Every once in a while, however, they hit the nail on the head, and the music speaks to me. Why do I listen when I could easily change the station? Well, because I made a commitment to myself, that any time I spent in the car alone, would be spent with God. It is MY time to share with him, and occasionally, I feel like he is sharing with me as well.
On this specific morning, I walked out, already weak and fragile, and not really in the mood or position to “talk” or sing to God. I just wanted the day to end, and it was only 7:30am. I started my car, and a song that I enjoyed was on the radio. “Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns. Rather than starting to drive right away, I decided that I wanted to listen to it all, so I waited in my driveway until the second verse started. I listened. I Heard!
I believe that on this day, God knew that I needed Him with me, and to understand that He was there. He chose to do it in the best possible way for me, through a song! So, here I am, in my driveway, car running, and this is what I hear:
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes
To stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound
Of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armour
Wishing they’d have had the strength to stand
But the giant’s calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I’ve tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again
“Boy you’ll never win!
You’ll never win!”
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, “Do not be afraid!”
And the voice of truth says, “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I would choose to listen and believe
I would choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
The voice of truth
Now, I know that some of you are simply saying to yourselves… “Coincidence! It was just a song on the Radio Chantal! You are reading way too much into this!” . I understand, and at the time, I really didn’t pick up on the words being spoken to me. I was still teary eyed, unwilling to move anymore than I had too, and fearful of the day ahead. Sure, the song was a comfort, but I felt like I still had a long way to go. What happened next however, gave me the courage to take on the day, and has influenced every day since then.
You see, after I finished listening to the song, I went to get my coffee at the gas station. Remember, I have been there every single weekday for at least 2 years now. I walk in, and before the door even closes behind me, I stop dead in my tracks. There it was – A sling shot! I had NEVER seen it before. It was the only one there, and without a thought, I picked it up, got my coffee, and paid for the two. I drove to work in slight confusion, but understanding all at the same time the message God was telling me! Sure, it could be all coincidence, but I don’t think so, Instead I choose to believe!
The sling shot now hangs on my wall at work, along with the lyrics quoted above. When things get a little tough for me, I just need to look over and see that I am armed for anything, because the Voice of Truth, has told me a different story. He has told me not to be afraid! I am armed, and ready to fight for his glory! God spoke to me that day, loud and clear. He was, and continues to be there for me throughout it all. And when I am weary, I find strength in Him!
Chantal
What’s next?
Well, here it is. It’s Monday afternoon, I’m back at work, and still suffering from complete exhaustion, sore feet, achy belly and tense back from Saturday’s Motorcycle Appreciate Day (MAD). Oh, one more thing! I feel incredible!!!!! I’m not going to go into great detail because you have probably heard it. It was an incredible day. I would do it all over again, no questions asked, including the 12 hours on my feet, running from one end of the parking lot to the other. Although I think I can speak for some when I say that it was a big sigh of relief at the end of the day. Phewwww, we made it through another MAD. Good job everyone! It really was awesome!
It is easy for us to all pull together when we have an organized event like MAD. We each have a role, some more clearly defined, and others do whatever is required. Just look for the people with the volunteer shirts on, and the job gets done. We know what is expected, and how we are to act. As it is always said, the Bikers Church does things with class, and so we demonstrate how tight we are together and we make people feel welcome and appreciated.
Now, as I sit here, a voice is whispering to me “What’s next?”. You see, it’s easy for me to be on my best behavior at times like MAD. I smile, I talk to people, I answer questions, and I try to make sure everyone is having a good time. Now that it is done, have I maintained this attitude? Will I still greet people with a smile and open arms when they walk through our doors? How do I make sure that the incredible work that was accomplished on Saturday live on? The answer is quite simple. Just do it! ( yeah yeah, I sound like a Nike commercial, but this time it works)
The reason I am saying this is because I know how easy it is to fall back into the trap of complacency. Big Events, well, they are a blast! There is an incredible rush that you feel being part of an activity like this. Unfortunately, it is so easy to forget how to keep it going, especially when the rush is gone. I, for one will probably need a reminder of who I am as a Bikers Church member so I am writing some of them down.
1) Smile, you never know who is watching
2) If you see someone who needs something, and you are able, step up and help
3) Always speak with respect, even in private conversations. People over hear
4) Rather than hold a grudge because someone else stepped in, welcome the advise and help
5) Be ready, because you never know how you will influence a stranger
6) Remember that you are serving God, and each guest is to be seen through HIS lenses
7) Just like your Momma says, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all
As a Bikers Church member I call myself to a higher standard – act accordingly at all times
9) God’s work can be exhausting, deal with it
10) It feels good to have accomplished something wonderful!!!
I’m sure that there are many more reminders to add, so please feel free to comment, I’d love to hear them.
MAD was a fantastic event, but we also need to remember that it is so much more! WE are so much more! We are a family, that share the same Father. We put on the event to say thank you to the motorcycle community, but our actions, our unity, and our passion serve to draw others as well. Will we still be as passionate when a stranger walks in six months from now? I hope so.
We are meant for more folks! We are to walk with others as they discover themselves, and their Faith. We can be the first positive example out there for them. We have a responsibility to help others, at all times. The greatest gift I was given on Saturday was a reminder that I have the opportunity to change a life, simply by taking the time to smile!
Oh, and one more thing. I have also come to realize that anyone I come in contact with can influence me. The same must then be true for me. I can only pray that my influence is positive.
Chantal
I’m ready to share!
When I first started going to the Bikers Church way back when, we had a very small group of people. I remember Nelia counting the people every week, and if we hit 30 people, including children, it was a great night. At that time, we were all very close to one another. We rode together almost every night, and surely every weekend. The whole church was inseparable. Every Thursday I would be filled with excitement, knowing I had finally found my place to belong.
As the years have gone by, the Church has grown tremendously. I would be lying if I said that I was always pleased with the growth. You see, as the numbers grew, the tightness of the group slowly changed. New people meant new relationships and the dynamics changed. I was not always comfortable with the way things were going. Many times I thought to myself ” I just wish that things would go back to the way they were”.
At that time, Church was all about me. It was the training I needed to begin to understand the larger picture. I needed the small group to understand what community meant. I needed to build the relationships that I did so that I could understand the true meaning of God’s plan. But when things started to change, I struggled.
You see, I had become so protective of my church family, that anyone new coming in needed to “fit” into the whole. I expected them to be like us, and if they could not, well, there are other churches around to meet their needs. I did not really want to share what we had with others. I was filled with gluttony for the Church itself. Let other people fend for themselves, this was MY spot!
God however, saw things differently. He continued to bring others into my comfort zone, and did not allow me to retreat. Sure, I’ve missed a lot of Thursdays in the last year. Yes, I have been taken aback when someone new comes to greet me like I was a newcomer. I have even caught myself being offended that they do not know who I am from time to time. Excuse me? Ummm, this is MY church! I am such an idiot. LOL!
Our Church has always been like a bunch of Gypsies, moving from one place to another, never really establishing roots, because we never knew when we would have to pack up again, and search for a new lot. In September we are moving again, but this time I hope it will be permanent. I am filled with excitement and fear, all at the same time.
I am fearful because the area we will be moving to, is home to many of the people that I work with. I worry about myself, ( yup being selfish here ) because a part of me does not want to share the comfort I have in my Church Family. The Bikers Church is a place that I can go and truly be myself. I selfishly do not want to have to change my behaviors, simply because of a “conflict of interest” between my faith and my work.
Yet, the minute I walked into the building, and the move was introduced to me, well, I knew that God had a plan for me there. I am having these overpowering feelings of excitement, and I can’t wait to go. From the moment I found out about moving to Vanier, I knew that this would be a very large part of what God wants from me.
I somehow feel that everything I have been trained to do, and all of the emotions that I have experienced as a result of the Church Growth has brought me to the place I am in today. Something is telling me that I need to be there. Fully, completely, without reservations or fears. The Church is going to be an instrument of change, not only to the Community in which we will reside, but to the hearts and souls of those who attend regularly.
Yes, there have been many changes that have occurred in the last year at the Bikers Church. I can’t help but believe that the new people who have come through our doors now offer so much more than just seat fillers. God has given these wonderful treasures to us, so that we may walk with those who have not yet learned of God’s Love.
I spent years being confused. I thought the Bikers Church was My place, and that I could only share with those “like me”. How incredibly stupid and naive of me. The Bikers Church is there to teach God’s Love to others. It is not a hang out place, a social club, and it is certainly not exclusive. EVERYONE is welcome. I do not need to protect myself from the “possibilities” of someone I work with from coming through the doors. In fact, I plan on celebrating every new face I see, and welcoming those whose name I already know.
I am no longer a child in my Faith. It is time for me to step up, and assume the responsibilities that God is presenting me. I have skills and experiences that may have a tremendous impact on the lives of others. My place, that is the place of all at the Bikers Church, is to share the message of God’s love. We each have a role to play, and that role should nevre change. I am a Christ follower! At work, at home, and Church, and even in the grocery store, I need to walk with God.
I have never been so incredibly convinced as I am right now. It’s like God is yelling in my ear, over and over again. We are going to make a huge difference, and I have a vital role in how that will play out.
Rob, The next time you see that girl smoking up, call me. I am ready to serve, and I will sit with her, listen to her, and do my best to invite her in. Yeah, I’m excited, because I finally understand what people mean when they say that they are being “called”.
I used to be afraid that I would lose something if people I knew from the “other part of my life” came in. Today, I finally understand that my role for Christ, is to open the door, let them in, and let the Bikers Church become their home and safety net, just like it was for me.
Ummm, can we move today? I’m ready to share!!!!!!
Perfection.
I’ve got writers block. I don’t know how many sentences I have deleted so far, but I can tell you that it has been more than 5. Actually, I don’t have a clue what to write. I missed Church last week, and have not had the time to watch the video on line yet.
I guess you can say that I am not inspired as a result.
Life took over this week. Hospital visits, family responsibility, planning 30th Birthday party for the son-in-law, meeting his friends, and entertaining my own at the same time, woo, I felt like I had not stopped.
Actually, on Saturday night, I would have had the time. The hubby was gone on an overnight ride, and everyone I usually hang with was as busy as I seemed to be. So I decided that I would just put on an old movie, relax, and enjoy the quiet.
Never did I expect my son, who never watches TV, to decide to sit with me for 3 hours. I was killing time before I put my movie on, watching LA Ink, when all of a sudden, the boy sits beside me. We chatted a little, then a little more, and the next thing I know, it’s time for me to go to bed.
It’s been a very long time since I have spent quality time like that with him. Sure, we weren’t doing anything fancy, but it was incredible to me anyways. I sat there, enjoying every second we shared.
Time goes by so quickly, and before you know it, the children you have raised are ready to take their own paths. Hey, that is our job as parent, right? Every moment is spent teaching them how to become independent, to learn right from wrong, to gain a love and understanding of God, so that when the time comes for them to go, they have the basic tools required to make the right choices.
I am grateful to God, for the boy. He is the one that has opened my eyes to incredible things in life. Incredible things, like sitting on a couch on a Saturday night, watching crappy TV, and enjoying one another’s company. Yup, my heart skipped several beats, because a 17 year old was wiling to hang with his Mom on a Saturday night. In my world, that is Perfection.
Mmmmmm lust
MMMMMMmmmmmm, Lust! Who doesn’t enjoy the sensation of desire for another? That wonderful anticipation of something new, exciting and wonderful. Oh, how I’ve loved to Lust! Ok, OK, get your mind out of the gutter folks. Shame on you, I wasn’t speaking of sex alone. Isn’t it funny how the word Lust immediately bring up thoughts of sex! It’s as if we have but one meaning for the word. Sex, Sex, Sex. Yet, the word can be used in so many aspects of our daily lives. It seems that we live in a time that sex is the only “evil” out there. By lusting after another we are somehow committing a wrong, but what if you are “lusting” after your spouse? Is that bad? I don’t think so. Where the issue comes is when the “lust” overtakes everything else. The thing is, many (if not most of us) lust after so many other things.
I looked up the word in the dictionary this morning. Here is what I found on dictionary .com :
–noun 1. intense sexual desire or appetite. 2.uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness. 3. a passionate or overmastering desire or craving (usually fol. by for ): a lust for power. 4. ardent enthusiasm; zest; relish: an enviable lust for life. 5. Obsolete . a. pleasure or delight. b. desire; inclination; wish.–verb (used without object) 6. to have intense sexual desire. 7. to have a yearning or desire; have a strong or excessive craving (often fol. by for or after ).
So, there it is, in print. An overmastering desire or craving. I’m not sure about you, but I have lusted after a whole lot more than just sex. I crave attention, I want to be wanted, I enjoy power and love enthusiasm. Where does this leave me? My goodness, I am doomed!!!!! LOL! I think that we get so caught up in the word that we lose sight of what Jesus was talking about in the first place.
God encourages passion in us. He wants us to feel and express this emotion in a way that we can experience it perfectly. The trouble with us, is that we allow our desires to consume us. It becomes central to our being. Every step we take, every thought we have, every idea that we think, is to obtain what we lust after. In doing so, we forget the other areas of our lives.
I’m going to be brutally honest. I am so guilty of this. I have been overcome by lust, and I still struggle to this day. I had allowed things to come between me and my family, my work, my spirituality, and my relationship with God. The desires that I felt engrossed me so deeply, that I was not even able to wake up without it on my mind. I did realize a long while back that it was destroying me. I fought it. I went into serious depressions, I hid from the world, I died a little within. I knew that I needed to let go, and allow God to guide me to Him, but I so desperately wanted what I wanted, that I kept taking back control.
God knew what I needed, and he knew that I could not do it on my own anymore. One morning, I awoke to realize that the life I thought that I had created for myself would be no more. I was devastated. I didn’t know where to turn, who to seek for help, or how to crawl out of the mess that I had created in my mind. The shell that I had built to show the world cracked, then crashed around me. I had no other options but to plead with God, in the name of Jesus Christ, to help me.
It’s taken time, and as I said previously, I still struggle. I’m sure that some of my health issues, and spiritual difficulties are a direct result of the stress, anxiety, and emotional turmoil that I allowed myself to engage in as a result of the “desires” that I carried. Yet God saw me, allowed me to fall, and was there to catch me when the time came. When I finally gave him control, ( since I no longer had the power to maintain it myself ), there have been incredible things that have happened in my life.
I have rediscovered my family, in a way that I never even acknowledge existed. I am able to look past the “ I should Have’s” and truly see the love that is there in front of me. I have reconnected with God on a level that I never knew could occur. He is present, in my thoughts and actions daily.
So, what was this lust that I sought so desperately you ask? Well, the best way to describe it, would be a false sense of Freedom. I wanted to be free from responsibility, to be able to do as I wished, when I wished, with who I wished. I wanted to have the liberty to do as I pleased, without worrying about consequences of my actions. I expected to be granted my desires without repercussions, and felt slighted when things did not go my way. I was selfish, angry, and self absorbed. I was LOST!
Yes, I still get caught up in the “I wants” sometimes, but I am fortunate. You see, Jesus has a way of calling me back to reality, and God is firmly planted in my heart. When my mind starts to wander, he is there to redirect me, to remind me that what I have now is greater than I ever expected. I have Freedom through him, and it does not cause me or my family pain. By walking with him, I am living a life that is joyful, strong, and exactly the way it should be. You see, I now know that freedom does not come from self absorption and lusting for something that does not exist. Freedom, true Freedom, can only be found when you actually take the time to listen to the WORD, understand the Truth, and accept Him into your heart.
WHEN DOING THE RIGHT THING FEELS SO BAD!
Last week was not a very easy one for me to deal with. I was in a position of having to make decisions that would have an incredible impact on other people. Those choices have caused the severing of certain relationships, and have created mistrust and anger for those influenced. Actually, with one simple conversation, 5 years of trust and work have effectively gone out the window. Yet, I stand behind my choice.
Most of you already know what I do for a living, but for those of you who do not, well, I work with people. My job is exceptionally rewarding to me, especially since last October, when I made the decision to work for God, rather than my employer. Sure, the City pays me my salary, but how I interact with the people in front of me is based on my Faith and principles. Since then, I have seen tremendous improvement in my own personal experiences, and coming to work is, for the most part, a pleasure. Yeah, I love my job, but there are days that are extremely difficult.
Last Wednesday was one of those days. My morning started off with a man who had relapsed, and as a result, was not able to go home to his family as originally planned. We discussed his situation, the consequences of his actions, and the pain that he was in. Yes, he has re-committed himself to his program, but it’s going to take some time for him to rebuild his trust. After that meeting, I met with his previous spouse. She is a lovely woman, clean for 19 months, and raising the two children on her own. I was able to provide a little support and encouragement. I was also able to join her in her sadness, since the life that she expected to begin this week, has now been put on hold for another 6 months to a year. She is a strong woman, and I know that she will overcome this obstacle, but still, it sucks that she is going through this at all.
Then came the next issue to deal with, and this was the hardest thing I ever had to do in the role that I am responsible to live at this time. You see, there is one person who has been a client of mine for 5 years. This man has experienced tremendous heartbreak, struggles, and grief. He also has some pretty serious mental health issues. In the past I was able to get him to see doctors, and convince him to do what he needed to “get better”. He would do well for a while, then slowly slip deeper and deeper into what I call “darkness”. This time around however, the depth of his issues created concern, not only for himself, but others as well.
I had to make a choice. Do I maintain the trust that I have managed to build with this person, or do I call the crisis unit, and have him picked up for an evaluation? Well, the decision was not a hard one to make. Crisis unit it is. What surprised me however, was the emotional reaction that I experienced after hearing his response.
He felt betrayed, and angry. He vowed never to speak with me again, and stated that he was devastated with what he perceived as being the wrong that I committed. He just did not understand the reasons behind my actions. To be honest, I knew that this would happen. I knew that by making the call, or even the suggestion that I would call, would destroy all of the progress that had been made with him. He would start to see me as a threat. Trust is out the window.
I did the right thing. I know that I did. Without the “forced hand” I fear this person will succumb to the illness that he has battled for so long. I understood the consequences of making the call, but I was also very aware of the consequences if I didn’t. I just never imagined that it would be this hard. You see, I like the guy. We work well together, he has taught me more than I ever think I was able to give him. He brings hope into my life. I have witnessed beauty in a man that can only see dark, and I have walked beside him as he stumbled, fell, and picked himself up again.
I am hoping that someday he will understand the choice I made. But even if he never comes to that realization, and the anger lives on in his heart, I need to have Faith and Hope. What I hope happens, is that he will get the help he needs, and discover a life worth living. I wish for him the same joy that I feel, knowing that I am never alone. I hope he sees color and light, in ways that he never imagined. I pray that his demons are taken away. I hope that he sees that in doing nothing, I would have only been making things worse. I hope that he gets hope.
For now, this is what I ask God to show him. I also pray that God can support me through the feelings I am experiencing, because even as I am confident I did the right thing, I still feel awful for the perceived pain I have caused. Life is funny, because even when you do the right thing, you can still feel so, so bad!
Chantal
(side note: a few days after I wrote this, I received a call from the man! He told me that he was afraid, but understood why I did what I did. He said that I had always been honest with him, and knew that I was holding his best interest at heart. He also agreed to seek help again! At this point, all I can really say is that God continues to work for us all! Thank you God, for offering hope, even when I lost sight of it myself).
Don’t even know where this came from but….
Well Hello All!
It is Monday night and I am sitting here in front of my computer. Actually, I just walked through the door, took off my shoes, grabbed my laptop, and this is the first place I am visiting tonight. I realize that my post is due in just a few short hours, and this is the first opportunity I have had to contemplate what I am going to write.
So, here is my question. Can a person actually be completely free of Sin? Wow, in my head you all just screamed “No way” and proceed to tell me multiple valid examples that I have personally committed. I’m not a stupid girl. I know that I fall prey to sin. The reason I asked in the first place, is that in our lives, we can sway from issues to issues, thoughts and beliefs, sins and salvation. We are all guilty, regardless of our status, our deeds and our aspirations. Nothing we can do will ever fully remove sin from our hearts.
So, I’m going to ask the questions again. Can a person actually be completely free of Sin? Well, if we are to take the word of God as truth, then the answer is a resounding “YES!”. The price for our sins has been paid in full ( ohhhh, how Christianese was that ! LOL). What I am trying to say is that God knew that we were faulty from the beginning. He knew that there was no way anyone of us, past, present or future, would be able to live up to HIM. He knew our hearts were weak, and that we could be manipulated so easily. God, understood that perfection was not ours to achieve and that by giving us free will, we would never ever be able to make the right choices all of the time.
Yet, He loves us. He loves us in such a way that he has given us all an opportunity to know him. He can look into our hearts he sees innocence. God gave us something greater than anything we could ever deserve. He gave us His Son. He allowed Jesus Christ to walk among us, to learn and understand our humanness, and to feel just like you and I do. God knew what was going to happen to his Son. He knew that we would be manipulated, and grow angry. He knew that we would turn against Jesus, mock Him, beat Him, and ultimately crucify Him.
Jesus died in order to grant us forgiveness for our sins. This sacrifice opens the doors for a wonderful relationship with God. I’m not just talking Heaven here, I’m saying it’s for here and now. In this moment, we can walk with Him, experience him, and live abundantly. Through him the past is wiped clean.
Yes, we can be completely free of any and all sins. All we have to do is accept Jesus Christ. We have to do it daily, but if I have learned anything at all in the few years I have been getting to know HIM, it’s all worth it.
Psalm 103:1-12
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us
No bunnies pooping golden turds!
Living Life Abundant. At the Bikers Church, this is a message that we are taught. It is, in my opinion, as strong a message as the concept of Grace. As Jesus stated “10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” ( John-10:10). Jesus came to bring us a new way of experiencing our daily steps. He came to teach us a better way, and by following him, he promised us a life worth living.
Now, this is not always an easy concept to grasp. Especially when life seems to want to suck every little bit of energy out of you. We all have our trials. We all struggle from time to time, be it health issues, financial, familial, legal, or whatever else we experience. Our life is not always like a box of chocolates, and there are times that the only logical thing to do is run ( Run Forrest Run). What is important is who and where we run to.
Sometimes, I think that it is easy to misunderstand the Bible. Actually, I know that it is difficult to understand at the best of time, for the most of us. We read it, and use our own personal experiences, and beliefs as a way to interpret the Word. The thing is, we all bring a crap load of baggage into the equation. In doing so, we fail in our translation, and add a lot of garbage in the process.
Life abundant. That means good all the time, doesn’t it? It means that we will always be safe, comfortable, warm, fed, and loved. Yup, all that wonderful gushy life is perfect stuff. How utterly disturbed a mind must be, if one can state that with an ounce of belief. Imagine how you will respond when trouble comes your way. It could shatter the very foundation of your faith once the *@#* hits the fan.
Good things happen to everyone, and in those times, it is easy for us to Praise God, and give thanks. But the reality is, God wants to give us a life abundant, Not necessarily a life of peace. Sometimes, the abundance comes in a time of crisis, when life just plain old sucks. So what then? How can we derive joy from the Word of God, when we misinterpret the meaning of life that Jesus described?
Look again, no where does it say that abundance is always positive. No where in the Bible does it promise us cute little bunnies that poop gold, or magical men that can heal us. Nor does it promise a fountain of youth. No, sometimes, living life abundantly means dealing with the real bunny turds, ageing, and the realization that the magical men are simply using a slight of hand to trick us. None, Not ONE of these things, is by God.
What I / we need to realize, is that God want us to see how amazing He is, even in our greatest difficulties. By seeking him during our trials, we can see just how much he loves us. We begin to understand that no matter what comes our way, we are never alone, and there is always contentment to be found. We can be grateful for what we do have, even when others would see our lives as complete disasters. Things, people, health, can all be taken from us, and our lives can change in an instant. Look around, and you will see many people who have suffered dramatic and disturbing things.
Abundance comes not from the “things” we have, or the experiences we have lived. It comes from knowing Jesus Christ. It comes from understanding that our lives have a purpose that goes far beyond what we see or feel. It is the comprehension that we are valued and loved, by the One who created us. “22Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? ( luke: 12:22-26)
So how do we experience the abundance that Jesus described? I think it is simple. Seek HIM! Get to know HIM! Love HIM! Lean on HIM! Then nothing, no situation, no crisis, no troubles, nothing will ever stand between you and a life in full.
Still have doubts? Then check this out!
Torn between 2 lovers…..
Torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool…. Yup, I’m singing the oldies today. Actually, this has been in my head for a few days now. As much as the services we have listened to in the last few weeks have caused me to search within myself, I find that there are more days than not that the melody above is a truer reality in my life.
I am struggling between two lovers. The first of course, is GOD. I search for him in everything that I see and everything that I do. I continuously wonder if I am following the path that he wants for me. I try to include him in all of my actions, and life. BUT, and this is such a big BUT, the other lover that I have, well, he can be very difficult to give up. That lover, or my SELF, wants what I want, and can trick me into thinking that if I follow a world of excitement will come with it.
Funny isn’t it, that we view God as the “stable” or “boring” lover in our life. He is the constant, always there, dependable, loving, forgiving, un-wavering.Yes, and taken for granted. He is perceived as the one that we go to once we have sowed our wild oats. We search for him when the crazy drama and fun have run it’s course. At least, that is what I thought to myself.
After all these years of attending church, connecting to God, and trying to live a life worthy of my creator, I still find myself drawn to a darker side. There are times that I crave the excitement that does not include God. I struggle with certain issues, and look to both sides of the fence to decide which road I will travel. Most times, I feel that I make the right choice, but every once in a while I do decide to trek on the wilder side.
The thing is, I have managed to justify certain behaviours simply because I want the experience. Other times, I take the path I know is right, but end up feeling a little resentful towards God. I’m like a child throwing a tantrum, but I WANNA!!!! As silly as it seems, I feel hard done by. I hardly think that my attitude is pleasing to God during those times. In fact, it would seem to opposite to me. God does not want me to do things out of duty, because if my heart is not willing, then my actions are faulty, without conviction, and fake.
What really is the point of all of this? God, my true lover, stands by me as I discover these issues within myself. The other one, who makes promises that he cannot keep, expectations that are not met, and thrills that cause pain, uses me to destroy the very relationship I try to maintain with My Lord and Saviour. And yet, like an abused woman going back time and time again, I put myself in situations of harm, hoping that the conclusion will change.
So, my greatest challenge at this time is to see that my true love, My God, can provide me with everything that I need or want. I simply need to trust him. The excitement that I sometimes crave can be filled by Him, and only Him. He provides me with contentment, peace, love, acceptance, and most importantly Grace. He knows that I am not perfect, but stands with me as I struggle, always with a word of encouragement, and open arms.
My God, I really am not worthy of all your love, but I thank you for standing with me. Teach me to accept your warm embrace, and allow me to feel the excited anticipation that can only be found when true love is abound. You and only you can lure me away from the one that destroys, so please help me see the evil in front of me, so that I may be able to turn my back to it, and see your face in everything I do. Amen!
Chantal
