Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Reckless Love!

I have completely fallen in love with a song called "Reckless Love" by Cory Asbury.  One day, I found myself humming one line - "I don't deserve it", but I had no idea what song I was humming.  That's the only verse I knew and I couldn't seem to get it out of my head.  So I googled that one line to try to find the song.  Nothing.  Then I searched "top Christian songs" and a list popped up.  It was the first song on the list and I felt quite sure it was the one stuck in my head, so I found it on YouTube, and YES it was the song!

As I was listening, I got to the verse I'd been humming.  "Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God.  It chases me down, fights till I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine.  I couldn't earn it.  I don't deserve it.  Still you give Yourself away.  Oh, the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God."

In the past, when I've read the parable Jesus shared about the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine sheep to find the one lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7), I've always thought, "Oh no!  Don't leave the ninety-nine!  What if they get away?"  Leaving the ninety-nine seems pretty reckless to me, BUT that's how important one is.  That's how important I am!  The love of God has literally chased me down and fought till I was found.  And guess what?  I don't deserve it.  Reckless love!

Jesus goes on to say that when the one sheep is found, the shepherd joyfully puts it on his shoulders and comes back rejoicing.  He calls his friends to come celebrate with him, because his sheep was lost, but is now found. 

This reminds me of the verse in the song that says, "There's no shadow you won't light up, mountain you won't climb up coming after me.  There no wall you won't kick down, lie you won't tear down, coming after me."

I can't tell you how many mountains He's climbed up and walls He's kicked down coming after me.  Nor can I tell you how many times those shoulders have carried me home!  He found me again, and again, and again...  Reckless love!

So the next time you're wondering if anyone loves you, think of the mountains He's climbed up coming after you.  Think of the walls He's kicked down coming after you.  Think of the lies He's torn down coming after you.  And think of the shoulders that have carried you back home and the rejoicing that took place over one!  Over YOU!  You couldn't earn it!  He's just recklessly in love with you!

Love Always,
Shy

Thursday, April 12, 2018

What if?

There I was, feeling so stressed over a particular situation.  All the worse possible outcomes were floating around in my brain like storm clouds.  Of course there were positive outcome options in the realm of possibilities, but like the sun, the storm clouds blocked their light.  So, I did what most of us do when the storm is passing - I checked the weather.  I needed some encouragement that the sun would shine again, so I called my "sunshine" friend.  You know that one friend who can point out the tiny rays of sun in a storm?  That one friend who if you called them and told them you broke your toe, they would reply "Thank God you have 9 more."  Yes, that friend...  I needed someone to remind me that there are blue skies ahead.

In the middle of my moaning about all that was wrong, he said something that really changed my entire posture (literally!).  He said "How would you act if you knew everything was going to be alright?"  Wow!  Suddenly, my back straightened up, my shoulders felt lighter, my head came out of a fog and I began to think, "What if God really is on my side?", "What if things really are working for my good?", "What if things truly are going to be okay according to God's plan?".  It was amazing how all of my "what ifs" changed from storm clouds to peace in the storm.  

It's amazing how when things are going well, we say "God is on my side", but we quickly forget that fact when we have a rainy day.  Let me remind you, GOD NEVER CHANGES SIDES!  Just as He was there as His son hung on the cross, He is there for us when we are being persecuted by our situations and thoughts.  He's ALWAYS on our side!  Sometimes, it's not about Him changing our storm, rather about Him changing us.

Your faith and your thoughts are powerful.  Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

So the next time you are going through a storm, stay connected to God through prayer and thanksgiving and change your "what ifs" to these questions: "What if God really is on my side?"  "What if He really does have a plan for my life?"  "What if things really are working out for my good?"  Then watch the peace of God guard your heart and mind beyond all understanding.  What if?


Love Always,
Shy

Monday, April 2, 2018

The Scar

"Is that a run in your pantyhose on your knee?" she asked with a quizzical look on her face.

Confused, I looked down at my knee to see what she was referring to.  Realizing it was the scar on my knee she was looking at, I replied, "Oh, no that's a scar I got from falling off a bike when I was a kid"

Fast forward 25 years, I've made it a point to only wear pants or dresses that come below the knee.  That incident made me super sensitive about my scar, so I've always hid it.  In my mind, if people saw my scar, they wouldn't see me - they'd only see my scar.  Plus, I'd be reminded of the fall.  Oddly, I'd only remember the "falling down" part, but not the "getting up" part.  Why is that?  Why do we remember the fall more than the getting up?  And why do we hide the scars after we've long since overcome the fall and gotten up?

There's a beautiful and talented chef by the name of Padma Lakshmi.  If you've heard of her, you may know about the 7" scar on her arm from a car accident she was in when she was 14.  Unlike me, she not only shows off her scar by wearing sleeveless dresses and short sleeve tops, but, at times, she actually puts glitter on it and wears it like an accessory!  Who does that to a scar?  Padma, that's who.  I was so impressed when I first saw her do this.  I was thinking, "You mean, you don't hide your scars?"  After all, I've spent years hiding scars.  Well, she's been quoted as saying, "It reminds me that I can survive my pain."  Wow!  She completely set me free with this!  Sounds like she's more focused on the "getting up" part. 

I'm not recommending you run out and share your story and worse scars with everyone, because I realize not everyone will be able to handle your story.  But, what I am saying is whether they are physical or emotional scars, it's not our falling down that should get the spotlight, "but thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him"! (2 Cor. 2:14)  What an opportunity to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Him when we bare our scars.  What an opportunity to show others that we are not our scars, but our scars are a sign that He has caused us to be triumphant!  

Scars...  We all have them.  We can choose to hide them or we can use them as an opportunity to give thanks to the one who caused us to triumph. So the next time you see me, don't be surprised if my scar baring knee is exposed.  Don't think it's because I'm being sassy.  It might just be my opportunity to share the fragrance of the knowledge of Him who caused me to triumph!

Love Always,

Shy

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