A Safe Place

Safe usually refers to physical protection. It can be protection from storms, harm, or evil. A safe is a place where one usually puts their valuables and no one can steal them. Emotionally, it is much more difficult to find that place. The valuables of our heart cry out for a box where there is no harm. Some people have friends who are there and are not judgmental. They accept you as you are. You can say anything, even if it is rambling to them. People pay money for counselors to be that safe place. Counselors are trained, and confidences are safe.

Right now, the only safe place is in the arms of Jesus. In that place He knows all. He holds us and allows the pain and tears to flow. Humans care, but are clouded by their own perceptions. Judgment belongs to God, but people wield the sword thinking they are capable of dividing truth well. John Piper's book, Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, has a chapter, Waiting for the Morning in the Night of Weeping. It is in allowing the pain and not masking it for humanity, that we find a quiet respite of peace and safety. Only in the pain and through our tears do we see our Protector and Shepherd, and feel secure.

Woman of Valor

I'm reading So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore. It encouraged me about what I've always heard as the "virtous woman." Valor is definitely what we women need in today's world. Beth gives the meaning of "valor" where KJV has given it "virtuous." Sometimes we get tired of being courageous. The verse was so timely from the Proverbs 31 passage. "She is clothed with strength and dignity." Again, strength is so needed for the challenges of life. Dignity is a puzzling concept. Pride is a sin. Dignity is how we are crowned. Wow! Queen, not just for a day, but for every day. We walk in the honor bestowed on us by Almighty God. We walk into the day facing our world knowing Who is our Maker, Redeemer and Strength. Belonging to Him, His daughter, His intimate friend, all because of Jesus. How can we thank Jesus enough for the Awesome Sacrifice He gave for us? Each day I discover something more about who I am in Christ. Pride is when I am trying to put myself out there in my own strength. It sure is puny...so weak. Dignity is given to us. We must wear it well.

Attitude

Everyone knows how important attitude is. It is emphasized in the business world, personal relationships, parent/child relationships, etc. Many who are conscious of that need for great customer service and care force themselves to smile and comment to keep the status of a job or the company. What about the one who is going through a divorce, grieving over the death of a relative or friend, or death of a friendship? The charade must go on, or the secret shopper may catch a frown or sour temperament. Is there another way for a good attitude? For those who are not the Tiggers of life(Winnie the Pooh), there is a solution. Whatever our situation there is a verse in Ps 121:1-3 that says "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from which comes my help." Each morning when I open my eyes, I lift up my spirit to "the hills". In lifting up we are refusing to have a melancholic day. We are lifting it up for God to be God today and handle whatever may come.

Approximately 2000 years ago a man who had done no wrong was "lifted up" on a cross on a hill. What is it about lifting up? How many of us want to lift something. It is not easy, but we put it above our heads. We offer it up to God. Jesus was lifted up where He willingly gave His life as a sacrifice for our sin. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." John 3:14 Moses had lifted up a snake on a pole. All of the people who had been bitten by snakes(symbolic of sin) could look up at the pole with the snake on it and be healed. The snake(sin) on a wooden pole(cross) brought freedom and health. Today the snake on a pole is the symbol of the American Medical Association.

For a healthy day, lift up your eyes to a hill far away where sin was conquered. This is my free gift to you today.

Connections

We connect with each other in so many different ways. One attempts to express love to another. Why is that love language foreign in the ears of the receiver? Why is the love not received? It is as though a translator is needed, because attempts to connect fall on deaf ears. Gary Chapman wrote 5 Languages of Love. There's physical contact, words, service, quality time and gifts. You can usually determine the language of the one who is attempting to show love. It becomes complicated in using that language to express love. The one who has the language of love of serving will serve food, laundry needs, housecleaning, etc. Does that same person expect service to be given to feel the love. The one who speaks love thinks it should reach the heart's target and be understood. Possibly service is more difficult. The quality time person would love to spend time without words. The verbal person expects to hear special words.

It is in allowing the Holy Spirit to move and challenge us to communicate in a language that is not natural to us, but triggers the right response in the recipient.

Understanding is not the only key. The real key is obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Acceptance/Approval

The driving force for most people is pleasing people, approval. By striving to do our best, we satisfy the needs of the business and the team goals. That's a great thing, the way to be successful. However, caught up in that mentality for our very existence clouds a vacuum in our lives. We reach the top of the ladder, and there's always another rung. We get the approval of those significant persons, and we are hollow. We are imprisoned in a world where all our energies are spent trying to gratify others.

This happens in the corporate world and in the Christian world. Paul said that "we are accepted in the beloved." Eph 1:6 As I previously blogged using Ephesians 1:4-6, our striving can rest. The acceptance is already there. The more we allow His Spirit to work through us, the more we obey the Spirit's promptings, the more we know we belong. We are at home. We are completely accepted.

There's a club at UT Austin called Koinonia Christian Fellowship. Debbie Fitz wrote "I know that my identity is not defined by what I do or by my title. My true identity is that I am a sinner forgiven by God, a child of God, His servant." http://koinoniatexas.org/2009/12/galatians-5-%E2%80%93-devotional-commentary/ This is the ultimate identity. What we do plays into the picture, but after we are fully aware and enjoying His acceptance and approval.

Somewhere in the Psalms there is a word picture of a child weaned from his mother illustrating how we are satisfied and whole in Christ.

Chosen

To choose is to pick out from others. We pick the best fruit or vegetables at the grocery store. Choosing team members involves picking the ones who will play best for the team. The decision is based on what knowledge is available and what our sense of appearance reveals to us. Others are considered inferior in the choice of the finest.

Interesting twist in spiritual things: In Ephesians 1:4-6 it says,"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he[c] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." Wow! The choosing here is with a foreknowledge that we will become The Chosen. Through Him, we will be holy and blameless. This choosing took place before the foundation of the earth.

How is this consistent with the verse that says that God is not willing that any perish (Matt 18:14)? Another verse explains it well. Matt 22:14 says that "many are called, but few are chosen." In this picture the team captain says, "You can all play." Only a few come up to the plate and offer their lives as a player. I would say this to me kids when they were growing up also. I call all of them to do some request. I could predict the ones who would respond and offer to help. My human foreknowledge is flawed. God's is flawless. The fault is not with God. He longs for all to come to Him and be all He created one to be. We are chosen!!! Chosen to be His princess or prince, His ambassador to the world, His arms, legs, eyes, smile, spoken Word to those who need outstretched arms, legs to take them somewhere, eyes to see their need and affirm them as special, smile to encourage their day, spoken Word to reveal the heart of God.

Chosen is significant in the spiritual world when we respond. The heart of our Father aches to leave the others behind. It aches when His Choice remains a vacant seat. It was reserved for that Chosen One. In reality, the choice is ours.

"New" Verses

"...and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." Eph 4:24 (New American Standard Version)

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creature; old things passed away; behold new things have come." 2 Cor 5:17 (New American Standard Version)

Read the previous blog for applications to identity in Christ.