First of all, yes, I am talking about the television show. The Biggest Loser, if there is anyone out there who has been living in a cave for the last 5+ years or so, is a show that challenges overweight individuals to lose weight. The contestants train hours upon hours a day in order to accomplish this mission. On the show, the person who loses the least amount of weight or who is voted off, leaves. From what I understand, this difference in this year's show is that there are parent/child teams; a mother/father teamed up with a daughter/son. This week was a pivotal week for contestants, in that two of the individuals were being sent home. Throughout the show, there were a couple clips displaying the team's strategies in case of a loss. On the "black team," there was a discussion of parents giving up there spot, in order for their kids to stay on the show. They felt this opportunity was an opportunity of a lifetime for their children, one that is crucial and life changing. During the weigh in contestant after contestant would walk up to the scale to see their weight loss for the week; a weight gain would be unheard of, except in a situation where someone was giving up a spot in order for another to stay. The first mother stepped on the scale, + 1. The father stepped on the scale, +3. The last mother stepped on the scale, +8. Unheard of, yes. A sacrifice, INTENTIONAL.
It was interesting. While I was watching the show, I was also putting together an I-Tunes playlist. The song, "Jesus Paid It All" was playing. I couldn't help but think about our Heavenly Father sacrificing for us. With no hesitation, the parents on the show sacrificed for their children. "I would do anything for my child." "If I become half the man my Dad is for doing what he did this week..." " These are all my children, I love them dearly, and would do anything for them." Sound familiar? Maybe worded a little differently, but I believe these are the words Jesus spoke to us. Jesus knew the cross would be life changing, he knew it was crucial. With emotions high, BUT NO HESITATION, and love on display I saw parent after parent give up their spot for their child. How much more was the sacrifice of our King on the cross. Life for life. Love for love. "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow." I owe my life to Jesus for what He did on the cross for me. He knew the life I was going to live, the mistakes I was going to make, all the while enduring the crucifixion of the cross. No one in my life can say they have done the same thing for me. No one. My family has sacrificed certain things for me and some of my friends have sacrificed things for me, but not one single person in my life, besides the Lord Almighty can claim they have intentionally died (and rose again) in order for me to live. I am forever thankful and forever humbled by a gesture so powerful. Blessed be your Name.
Love Deeply
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
His Treasured Possession
Deuteronomy 7:6-9:
"The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharoah king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands."
God continues to bring me back to this scripture in my quiet times with Him. I feel that He wants me to read it and re-read it, and read it again, and again in order for me to claim His love over my life. He is beautiful. He is faithful. And I do, I do claim that love over my life. Blessed be His name. The thought of our Jesus calling me His treasured possession, and calling you His treasured possession penetrates my soul deeply. It gives me that feeling of just wanting to fall into His lap and rest in His goodness and mercy. It gives me that feeling of taking in a breath of His peace and letting out all the worries of the world. It gives me that feeling of precious security. My friends, we cannot run from His love. It is a covenant spoken over us and promised to us by a King that reigns supreme over this world. May we all receive this love and walk in the wholeness He has called us to walk in.
"The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharoah king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands."
God continues to bring me back to this scripture in my quiet times with Him. I feel that He wants me to read it and re-read it, and read it again, and again in order for me to claim His love over my life. He is beautiful. He is faithful. And I do, I do claim that love over my life. Blessed be His name. The thought of our Jesus calling me His treasured possession, and calling you His treasured possession penetrates my soul deeply. It gives me that feeling of just wanting to fall into His lap and rest in His goodness and mercy. It gives me that feeling of taking in a breath of His peace and letting out all the worries of the world. It gives me that feeling of precious security. My friends, we cannot run from His love. It is a covenant spoken over us and promised to us by a King that reigns supreme over this world. May we all receive this love and walk in the wholeness He has called us to walk in.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Trust
Where is your trust? Or should I say, who do you find your trust in? Has your trust been broken? Have you broken the trust of others? I think everyone can relate in some way to the failure of trust in their life. Some of you may have experienced this when you were younger, some may have experienced it a couple years ago, and some may be going through it right now. Trust is defined as, "reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety of a person or thing; confidence." Another definition of trust is, "something committed or entrusted to one's care for use or safekeeping."
Unfortunately, but fortunately, the Lord is teaching me greatly about trusting others. "It is better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust in man." Psalm 118:8. "Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7. In both of these scriptures, the emphasis is placing our trust in the Lord. I read recently that our deepest loyalty must be to the Father. This is obvious, right? You would think, but I don't know if it's that easy. We have to figure in our closest friends, we have to figure in family, we have to figure in spouses, we have to figure in those who we feel a true bond to. I believe our trust, consciously or subconsciously is given to people here on earth. In some ways, I think we put so much trust in others, where we feel as though they can do no wrong (again consciously or subconsciously). This swings open the door for heartache, brokenness, misunderstanding, frustration, hurt ect. I have been reminded recently that again the Word says, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust in man." As hard as it may be to read this and think about, man will always fail you. I have failed people, and people have failed me.
I am not trying to say that we cannot trust anyone here on earth, but what I want to encourage you with is that our deepest trust must remain in the One who will never fail us. Our God is faithful. Jesus continues to remind me these days of the difference between Him and "man." I am thankful that we serve a Father who is perfect, holy, righteous, pure, loving, and ever so worthy of our praise. Blessed be His name...
Love deeply
Unfortunately, but fortunately, the Lord is teaching me greatly about trusting others. "It is better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust in man." Psalm 118:8. "Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7. In both of these scriptures, the emphasis is placing our trust in the Lord. I read recently that our deepest loyalty must be to the Father. This is obvious, right? You would think, but I don't know if it's that easy. We have to figure in our closest friends, we have to figure in family, we have to figure in spouses, we have to figure in those who we feel a true bond to. I believe our trust, consciously or subconsciously is given to people here on earth. In some ways, I think we put so much trust in others, where we feel as though they can do no wrong (again consciously or subconsciously). This swings open the door for heartache, brokenness, misunderstanding, frustration, hurt ect. I have been reminded recently that again the Word says, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust in man." As hard as it may be to read this and think about, man will always fail you. I have failed people, and people have failed me.
I am not trying to say that we cannot trust anyone here on earth, but what I want to encourage you with is that our deepest trust must remain in the One who will never fail us. Our God is faithful. Jesus continues to remind me these days of the difference between Him and "man." I am thankful that we serve a Father who is perfect, holy, righteous, pure, loving, and ever so worthy of our praise. Blessed be His name...
Love deeply
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