Saturday, December 29, 2012
Those Times When We Realize That We Are Just Strangers Here
This week my friends and I came to the conclusion that there is a Tenth Avenue North song for almost every situation. Maybe it is because the lyrics are just dripping with the Word of God. Really.
Anyway, this morning as I was doing something at work, the bridge of the song "Times" started running through my head. At first, I thought it was part of "Strangers Here," but then I started singing the line over and over to myself and realized it was different. I then had to go look up the song and lyrics. What I found completely sums up what is going on within me right now:
Times
By Tenth Avenue North
I am not going to lie, I get tired of fighting. I get tired of fighting my flesh, and striving for what is right. I get tired of holding in my passions. I get tired of hiding my affections for someone. I get tired of the battle raging between good and evil. I get tired of hearing of and dealing with the world's brokenness. I get tired of the reality of my own brokenness. It is tiring living in this world, and trying to be set apart. I get tired of sorrow, hurt, and pain. I get tired of the struggle (In this paragraph alone there are 4 different Tenth songs running through my head!). I guess you can say I am worn. I am worn and weary from the fight. I guess you can say that I need be spiritually renewed.
It is songs like this, and verses like "Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord..." (Ro 7:24-25a) that let me know that it is okay to get weary and worn out. However, my tendency is to pull away from everything that Jesus is, and seek out my own remedy to my weariness and that is not okay. Rather than finding my peace, rest, and renewing in Him, I search in the world. Searching for all of that in the world brings me even more spiritual turmoil and upheaval. So then not only am I weary, but I am once again feeling incomplete, broken, and bruised. There is more binding and stitching up that Jesus has to do with me because I didn't choose Him first. I didn't go to Him first. What a miserable person I am! Who will free from this?! Jesus. Jesus has already freed me from this, all I have to do, all you have to do, is go to Him.
"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always." (1 Chron 16:11) (NIV)
"The Lord says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.'" (Ps 32:8-9)
Here are the facts, and it is hard to hear (it is hard for me to type even): As long as we are here on this earth, we will be in a battle of some sort. Because the god of this world is constantly waging a war against Jesus and His Bride (us). But we can overcome him by standing firm with the full armor of God (Eph 6:10-18), by resisting (James 4:7), taking the way out when we are tempted (1 Cor 10:13), by knowing that we ARE covered by the Blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony. We shall overcome (Jeremy Camp song and Revelation 12:11). We can overcome!
I don't know about you, but I LONG for heaven. I LONG to be away from this world of darkness, destruction, and death. I LONG to see Jesus face to face. I want to be released from my struggles and issues.
"For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom (FREEDOM) from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with EAGER HOPE for the day when God will give us His full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something we don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't yet have we must wait patiently and confidently.)" (Rom 8:19-25)
I long for my homeland.
(Thought I would post this one as well... relevant.)
Strangers Here
By Tenth Avenue North
In Hebrews in the "Hall of Faith" it talks about those known for their faith, endurance, and confident hope keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus because they knew "that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth." Should I not do the same? Shouldn't I stop focusing on the calamity around me, and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus? Letting Him renew me when the war is raging, and I am tired and worn (Insert Tenth Ave. N song, "Worn" right here).
Just like there is a Tenth Avenue North song for almost every situation in life, there is most definitely a passage of the Word for EVERY situation in life.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." (Heb 12:1-4)
I suppose what I need is a renewing of my mind; a change in the way I think about Jesus. Seeing Him as my ultimate Satisfaction. My ultimate source of peace and comfort. My ultimate joy. My ultimate source of strength when I am feeling quite weak. My ultimate source of love. My ultimate example of a Father. My ultimate King. My ultimate Savior. My ultimate Lord. I need to take a new grip with my tired hands and strengthen my weak knees. (Heb 12:12)
"And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all that He has done fore you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-- the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into anew person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Rom 12:1-2)
I need Jesus, and the support of the Body of Christ. Rather than pulling away and isolating myself, I need to run into the arms of Jesus, and let my spiritual family know what is going on. I am really bad about doing both of those things. Like I said, I tend to try and find a remedy on my own (which leads me to an Ayiesha Woods song.)
"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:8-9)
There are times that I get ahead
And find myself leading when I need to be lead
So what am I to do
When words seem too much or not enough
What will I say
When the rubber meets the road and the going gets tough besides:
Oh Lord, I need you
I don't know if I'm coming and I don't know if I'm going
But Lord, I need you
So won't you move me out of my way so I can get to you
(Get To You by Ayiesha Woods)
Anyway, this morning as I was doing something at work, the bridge of the song "Times" started running through my head. At first, I thought it was part of "Strangers Here," but then I started singing the line over and over to myself and realized it was different. I then had to go look up the song and lyrics. What I found completely sums up what is going on within me right now:
Times
By Tenth Avenue North
I know I need You
I need to love You I'd love to see You but it's been so long I long to feel You I feel this need for You I need to hear You Is that so wrong? Now You pull me near You When we're close I fear You Still I'm afraid to tell you all that I've done Are You done forgiving? Can You look past my pretending? I'm so tired of defending what I've become What have I become?
But I hear You say
My love is over It's underneath It's inside It's in between | The times that you doubt me And when you can't feel The times that you question Is this for real? The times that you're broken The times that you mend The times you hate me The times that you bend My love is over It's underneath It's inside It's in between The times that you're healing And when your heart breaks The times that you feel like you've fallen from grace The times that you're hurting The times that you heal The times you go hungry and are tempted to steal | In times of confusion In chaos and pain I'm there in your sorrow under the weight of your shame I'm there through your heart-ache I'm there in the storm My love I will keep you by my power alone I don't care where you've fallen or where you have been I'll never forsake you My love never ends It never ends |
I am not going to lie, I get tired of fighting. I get tired of fighting my flesh, and striving for what is right. I get tired of holding in my passions. I get tired of hiding my affections for someone. I get tired of the battle raging between good and evil. I get tired of hearing of and dealing with the world's brokenness. I get tired of the reality of my own brokenness. It is tiring living in this world, and trying to be set apart. I get tired of sorrow, hurt, and pain. I get tired of the struggle (In this paragraph alone there are 4 different Tenth songs running through my head!). I guess you can say I am worn. I am worn and weary from the fight. I guess you can say that I need be spiritually renewed.
It is songs like this, and verses like "Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord..." (Ro 7:24-25a) that let me know that it is okay to get weary and worn out. However, my tendency is to pull away from everything that Jesus is, and seek out my own remedy to my weariness and that is not okay. Rather than finding my peace, rest, and renewing in Him, I search in the world. Searching for all of that in the world brings me even more spiritual turmoil and upheaval. So then not only am I weary, but I am once again feeling incomplete, broken, and bruised. There is more binding and stitching up that Jesus has to do with me because I didn't choose Him first. I didn't go to Him first. What a miserable person I am! Who will free from this?! Jesus. Jesus has already freed me from this, all I have to do, all you have to do, is go to Him.
"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always." (1 Chron 16:11) (NIV)
"The Lord says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.'" (Ps 32:8-9)
Here are the facts, and it is hard to hear (it is hard for me to type even): As long as we are here on this earth, we will be in a battle of some sort. Because the god of this world is constantly waging a war against Jesus and His Bride (us). But we can overcome him by standing firm with the full armor of God (Eph 6:10-18), by resisting (James 4:7), taking the way out when we are tempted (1 Cor 10:13), by knowing that we ARE covered by the Blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony. We shall overcome (Jeremy Camp song and Revelation 12:11). We can overcome!
I don't know about you, but I LONG for heaven. I LONG to be away from this world of darkness, destruction, and death. I LONG to see Jesus face to face. I want to be released from my struggles and issues.
"For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom (FREEDOM) from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with EAGER HOPE for the day when God will give us His full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something we don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't yet have we must wait patiently and confidently.)" (Rom 8:19-25)
I long for my homeland.
(Thought I would post this one as well... relevant.)
Strangers Here
By Tenth Avenue North
I know you're tired of the hurt and the heartache
You feel like giving in, you feel like walking away And I know it's difficult feeling so out of place But this is not how it's gonna be Your pain is temporary
We're all strangers here
So it's alright if you can't Stop the tears that you cry |
‘Cause some day we'll touch the face of our God
And the sorrow will disappear Until then, we're strangers here
That's hard to hear if you want to keep chasing
This broken world that only keeps your heart breaking So if you're scared ‘cause you think that you're missing out This is not the ending No, this is not the ending |
This is not the homeland
We can see the lights from here He's making us a city Where there are no fears And it's drawing near Until then, we’re strangers here We’re just strangers here |
In Hebrews in the "Hall of Faith" it talks about those known for their faith, endurance, and confident hope keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus because they knew "that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth." Should I not do the same? Shouldn't I stop focusing on the calamity around me, and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus? Letting Him renew me when the war is raging, and I am tired and worn (Insert Tenth Ave. N song, "Worn" right here).
Just like there is a Tenth Avenue North song for almost every situation in life, there is most definitely a passage of the Word for EVERY situation in life.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." (Heb 12:1-4)
I suppose what I need is a renewing of my mind; a change in the way I think about Jesus. Seeing Him as my ultimate Satisfaction. My ultimate source of peace and comfort. My ultimate joy. My ultimate source of strength when I am feeling quite weak. My ultimate source of love. My ultimate example of a Father. My ultimate King. My ultimate Savior. My ultimate Lord. I need to take a new grip with my tired hands and strengthen my weak knees. (Heb 12:12)
"And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all that He has done fore you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-- the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into anew person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Rom 12:1-2)
I need Jesus, and the support of the Body of Christ. Rather than pulling away and isolating myself, I need to run into the arms of Jesus, and let my spiritual family know what is going on. I am really bad about doing both of those things. Like I said, I tend to try and find a remedy on my own (which leads me to an Ayiesha Woods song.)
There are times that I get ahead
And find myself leading when I need to be lead
So what am I to do
When words seem too much or not enough
What will I say
When the rubber meets the road and the going gets tough besides:
Oh Lord, I need you
I don't know if I'm coming and I don't know if I'm going
But Lord, I need you
So won't you move me out of my way so I can get to you
(Get To You by Ayiesha Woods)
Friday, December 14, 2012
Brandon Heath - I'm Not Who I Was
I don't know how I could forget this one!!! This video is SO relevant to today's post!! Well, the important thing is that I am posting it NOW!
Who Do You Say I Am, Lord?
So I have a question for y'all: How do you see yourselves? On a daily basis how do you see yourself?
I ask this because a couple of days ago someone had told me they thought I was a great person, kind, caring blah, blah, blah. While I appreciated the complement, all I could think was no I am not! You don't know me! You don't know what I am REALLY like! Who I REALLY am! I tried to tell this person that I was not that kind. That I have my moments of selfishness; moments that I am an absolutely horrible person. See, I have these tendencies to be someone who is completely opposite of good, kind, and caring.
So this morning, I was reflecting on this (I do a lot of reflecting!!), and I thought about the difference between how I see myself and how God sees me. How I see myself: broken, selfish, lonely, hurt, sinful, unworthy, in hiding, hurt, and full of secrets. As I thought about this, I thought no, this is who I USED to be. This is who I am apart from Christ. This is who I WOULD be if I hadn't been purchased by the blood of Christ. This is my flesh. And more importantly, this is a LIE.
The problem is, I cannot forget my past. I cannot forget my sin. Last night, someone asked me a profound question (I don't know if you realized how profound this question really was, but it has been on my mind since last night): "Don't you wish you could forget some things?" My answer: Oh heck yes, I do. I wish all the time I could forget my past sins, mistakes, failures, my "what was I thinking moments?", my old self that was separated from God. That I could forget the way that I used to be, so I could embrace the way that I was MADE to be. Full and complete in the presence of Almighty God. God forgot so why can't I? (See Ps. 103)
I wish with all my heart to realize that I am redeemed. That I don't have to live like I used to, apart from God. That I have been purchased and made free from the bonds of sin and death. There is a song called Finally Free "And if the Son has set us free, then we must be free indeed. Let the chains fall away starting today! Everything has changed; I'm finally free." (See John 8:34-36)
"So now there is no condemnation for those of you who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." (Rom. 8:1-2)
So, who does God say I am? Who does God say you are? How does God see us?
"Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do and it gave Him great pleasure. SO we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding." (Eph. 1:4-8)
See, through Jesus Christ, God has made us completely new, and we can really live in a way that pleases Him. Will we fall? Occasionally. Will we still have a slip up? Probably. Will Satan come and try to get us to believe that we are still the way we used to be before Christ? Oh most definitely. But that is the beautiful thing about grace and truth. God is truth, and He is graciousness. Live in freedom, my dear people. Live in the love of Christ for the rest of your days. It truly is the best way.
So what conclusion did I come to? Who God says I am far outweighs who I used to be. Also, I came to realize that there is nothing too great for His redemptive grace. Also, that the Holy Spirit is truly cultivating the fruits of the Spirit in me (this never ceases to amaze me! I mean, me, Deandra M. Carter, am becoming a new creation caring, full of kindness, and unconditional love... go figure!)
How God sees me (and you): Whole, complete, free, full of the Holy Spirit, redeemed, loved, purchased, beautiful, and worthy (Add more words here!).
"By His divine nature, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises (Insert Promises by Sanctus Real here "Just hold on to the promises, hold on to the promises..."). These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires..." (2 Pet. 1:3-4 continue reading through v. 8-- it is good stuff!)
"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Cor 5:17)
"You were dead because of your sins and your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all of your sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross." (Col. 2:13-15)
"...This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." (Col 1:21-22)
See also: Hebrews 4:15-16, Heb. 10:19-25, Col. 2:10 (talks about being complete), Eph 3:14-20 (ah, the deep, deep love of Christ! Isn't it cool though? Christ loves us so much). Jer 31:3.
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