Anecdote No. 1: The Impossible Life Made Possible
Recently, in two separate conversations with my husband and my mother-in-law, I expressed my recent ponderings about possible reasons behind why there is such an array of difference with regards to lifestyle, speech, relationship, and attitude among Christians today. And what God must feel knowing that perhaps only a few of those who call themselves Christians are experiencing the 'fullness of joy' that is in His presence, as any human can while living on this earth. This begs the question: Are these Christians truly righteous? The spectrum of the Christian 'experience' of God is far and wide. If I were to walk into my church and ask every single person present to describe their salvation experience (their day to day journey with Christ having received salvation by grace through faith), I would more than likely get a variety of responses: from excitement to boredom to complacency to guilt to indifference to "mind your own business!" Why is that? Why is there such a significant divide among the righteous? How can one Christian brother or sister eagerly walk in the light of His Word and another not equally desire it, love it, grow in it? Why does it seem, in my opinion, that among many so-called Christians life has not changed much over the days, the weeks, the years?
In my opinion, the answer to these questions lies in one's understanding of, acceptance, and surrender to the Holy Spirit. Without the presence and dwelling of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to live by faith or even to understand what living by faith means. Furthermore, without daily surrender and yielding to the Holy Spirit, living by faith cannot and will not take place. The truly righteous possess the Holy Spirit of God who thus enables them to live by faith, abiding in Christ and in God's Word.
Jesus reveals this sentiment in John 14 when he tells the disciples about the Holy Spirit whom God the Father will give to them to live in them and be with them when he departs. He goes on to declare that those who have his commands and obey them are the ones who truly love Him. In the same token, those who do not love him will not obey his teachings. Ultimately, true Christianity is characterized by a life of faith made possible through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Often when Scripture is discussed in sermons, on the radio, during our devotions, we find it challenging and even difficult to merge our theology with our day to day reality. Perhaps we feel convicted for a time, but then we dispassionately reject or diminish the idea of change unaware that we are actually rejecting God's desire to work in our lives, ultimately grieving the Holy Spirit. For many, our "Christian life" remains on the whole separate from the rest of our life and we end up never really growing, never really experiencing the full life on earth that Jesus says is the reason for his coming (John 10:10). Can we truly call ourselves Christians if, by the measure of His Word, we don't listen to his voice (John 10:27), we don't abide in Him (John 14-15), we lust after the pleasures of the flesh (Galations 5:16-24), and our attitude towards others is void of love (1 John 4)? Can we call ourselves Christians if our lives are devoid of anything truly Christ-like? There must be some distinction between God's holy people and those who do not yet belong to Him. I believe that distinction is the Holy Spirit and his presence revealed in a life lived by faith.
Friend, if God's salvation has been made clear to you and you have received it by faith with an open heart, receive too by faith the knowledge that God's very presence, the Holy Spirit, now lives in you and it is his desire and will to enable you to experience Life as God intended and as Jesus has made accessible to you. Then and only then can you live day after day by faith and in doing so reflect true righteousness and holiness.
7.08.2011
Blog Series: The Faith-filled Life of the Righteous
BLOG SERIES INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
In Romans 1:16-17 the Apostle Paul writes:
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Inspired by this verse, life's events thus far, and the daily struggles that I experience, I've decided to devote a blog series to understanding and discussing what 'living by faith' looks like; essentially, what should, I believe, characterize the Christian's inner self and consequently, outer reflection. The great thing about what lies ahead for both of us, is that I have so much to learn, too. I won't always write from experience but from what I understand from God's Word, which is also slowly changing me from the inside as I consciously yield to God's Spirit who is at work in me. What I desire and will endeavor to do is to make clear to myself and to those who end up reading my thoughts that it is action and conscious expressions of the will that denote true belief in Christ, God's salvation, and declarations that Jesus is the author of life and my Lord and God. After all, how we live reveals what we believe and the kind of heart we have.
With all that said,
Are you truly righteous? Who are the true righteous ones of God? What does it mean to be righteous?
Dictionary.com defines "righteous" as: 1) Morally right or justifiable, virtuous, 2)perfectly wonderful, fine and genuine
Ultimately, God sets the standard for righteous being and living. He is righteousness defined. It is through Jesus that we have been made morally right in the eyes of God (righteous being), and still through Jesus that we are able to live by faith (righteous living).
1 John 2:29 says "If you know He is righteous, you know that everyone who also practices righteousness is born of him." (NET)
So it comes down to this: Those who practice righteousness (live by faith) are those who have accepted and trusted in the righteousness of Christ. Just as Jesus himself alluded that those who are his listen to him and follow him (John 10:27). Conversely, those who do not listen to and follow him are not really his. True Christianity seeks to imitate Christ, living day by day through His Holy Spirit.
In this blog series I hope to capture some of what living by faith looks like. As I journey with Christ and learn to walk in His ways, I pray you will be encouraged to do the same in yours.
In Romans 1:16-17 the Apostle Paul writes:
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Inspired by this verse, life's events thus far, and the daily struggles that I experience, I've decided to devote a blog series to understanding and discussing what 'living by faith' looks like; essentially, what should, I believe, characterize the Christian's inner self and consequently, outer reflection. The great thing about what lies ahead for both of us, is that I have so much to learn, too. I won't always write from experience but from what I understand from God's Word, which is also slowly changing me from the inside as I consciously yield to God's Spirit who is at work in me. What I desire and will endeavor to do is to make clear to myself and to those who end up reading my thoughts that it is action and conscious expressions of the will that denote true belief in Christ, God's salvation, and declarations that Jesus is the author of life and my Lord and God. After all, how we live reveals what we believe and the kind of heart we have.
With all that said,
Are you truly righteous? Who are the true righteous ones of God? What does it mean to be righteous?
Dictionary.com defines "righteous" as: 1) Morally right or justifiable, virtuous, 2)perfectly wonderful, fine and genuine
Ultimately, God sets the standard for righteous being and living. He is righteousness defined. It is through Jesus that we have been made morally right in the eyes of God (righteous being), and still through Jesus that we are able to live by faith (righteous living).
1 John 2:29 says "If you know He is righteous, you know that everyone who also practices righteousness is born of him." (NET)
So it comes down to this: Those who practice righteousness (live by faith) are those who have accepted and trusted in the righteousness of Christ. Just as Jesus himself alluded that those who are his listen to him and follow him (John 10:27). Conversely, those who do not listen to and follow him are not really his. True Christianity seeks to imitate Christ, living day by day through His Holy Spirit.
In this blog series I hope to capture some of what living by faith looks like. As I journey with Christ and learn to walk in His ways, I pray you will be encouraged to do the same in yours.
Five years ago today...
I married my best friend. Today, although we have experienced our share of hardship and quarrels, challenges and joys (what's a marriage without them?), I can say in all honesty that it doesn't feel like five years (more like twenty! haha just kidding). What I mean to say is that since marrying Dale, life has not dragged on cumbersomely, boringly, or dispassionately as the years have added to our journey as a married couple. Yes, as in any marriage there are the down times, the lack of communication times, the both stupid and valid quarrel times, the disagreements, the annoyance, the tears. But in and through these times there has been the love, the laughter, and the mystery of our budding and continually growing romance. We often joke (sometimes seriously) about how different we are, and yet how God planned our lives to intertwine.
I am thankful for the last five years. My pride has been broken time and again and I am continually learning what it means to love as Jesus loves us, and to be a wife who honors and respects her man. It's a humbling process but one that I am glad to take part in with the man God designed to be my partner in life.
"Til' death do us part."
I am thankful for the last five years. My pride has been broken time and again and I am continually learning what it means to love as Jesus loves us, and to be a wife who honors and respects her man. It's a humbling process but one that I am glad to take part in with the man God designed to be my partner in life.
"Til' death do us part."
6.12.2011
2 Months Ago...
My baby girl was born - she's growing so fast! There are so many things I am learning about her and loving about her as we spend the days together. She smiles so much now, coos and tries to engage in baby talk with Dale and I, and is becoming more aware of her surroundings, voices, and faces. This journey of motherhood has definitely taken a turn since the beginning and I can honestly say I am loving it! I say "honestly" because, as you would have read from my previous post on how much life has changed, I honestly didn't love it in the beginning. And by beginning I mean the first few weeks. Although I anticipated change, I didn't expect the overwhelm of emotions (mostly frustration, anxiety, and sadness) and that coupled with a difficult recovery (I didn't fully physically heal until 4ish weeks) didn't lead to love. There were times early on where I felt like Mischa didn't like me. Probably because I didn't know how to console her when she was crying, or to fully meet her needs, or even what she needed when she was crying. But thankfully that has changed, as I knew it would eventually. It's true what they say - it gets better! I can only imagine how much better it's going to get from here.
Mischa Milestone
Recipe for Naptime
1) Adele's "Daydreamer" on the ipod
2) White Noise Giraffe
3) Swaddled
4) Bouncy ball
Mischa's becoming really good at going down for naps during the day (when she doesn't get overtired). I'm so proud of her (and me!). I let Dale in on the routine I've been following for the last 2 weeks and today when he put her down for her nap, right when she entered the room and heard the music, she knew right away what time it was. Unfortunately, he forgot to check her diaper and a few minutes after he left the room we heard a little whine. After a quick change, reswaddle, and a little cuddle time she was good to go.
1) Adele's "Daydreamer" on the ipod
2) White Noise Giraffe
3) Swaddled
4) Bouncy ball
Mischa's becoming really good at going down for naps during the day (when she doesn't get overtired). I'm so proud of her (and me!). I let Dale in on the routine I've been following for the last 2 weeks and today when he put her down for her nap, right when she entered the room and heard the music, she knew right away what time it was. Unfortunately, he forgot to check her diaper and a few minutes after he left the room we heard a little whine. After a quick change, reswaddle, and a little cuddle time she was good to go.
5.22.2011
Baby Bits turned Mischa Milestones
Mischa is going to be 6 weeks old on Tuesday. I've read that a growth spurt is coming up; I can just imagine what that entails (feeding every 2 hours or less, sleeping...more? or less? She currently spends the days awake more than asleep). She already reached some milestones in the past 6 weeks: smiling! lifting and turning her head during tummy time, fattening up! And last night she gave Dale and I a treat and slept for almost 4.5 hours. Now that is a major milestone! I hope more long stretches of sleeping is part of this upcoming growth spurt.
5.21.2011
Life is not what it was...
April 12, 2011 is a day to remember. Mischa Elle was born at 7:30pm after 16.5 hours of labour including 2 hours of pushing out her little 7 lb, 4 oz body. That ordeal coupled with zero pain relief is, I must admit, the achievement of my life so far. My biggest fear, whence I could wrap my mind around child-bearing, was the thought and experience of giving birth. I literally thought I would die on the delivery table. Seriously. I mean, have you seen a birthing video? How is that possible? I am still in disbelief at what my body was able to do.
Side note: Her name, Mischa Elle, is taken from the Hebrew nameMishael which means Who is like God?. Hence, Tim Neufeld's song below will be the first song I hope she learns to sing!
That was 5 weeks and 4 days ago. Since that day, life has not been the same and I know it never will. I write those words with both joy and sadness, anticipation and nostalgia.
The feelings of joy and anticipation are pretty self-explanatory. If you've ever had a child of your own, then you can relate. There's nothing comparable to cuddling and staring at my own flesh and blood, knowing that she grew inside me for nine months and is the perfect combination of Dale and I. That fact is still surreal to me in many ways. She brings me joy and gives me an overhwhelming desire to love her self-lessly (which is really the only way to love a child). The feeling of anticipation characterizes both each day that passes and the thought of how much she will grow in the next year and in the years to come. Every day brings a new opportunity to discover and witness her development. Just last week she started to coo and make the most adorable sounds. I'm also pretty convinced she can look me in the eye now. She always seems to make eye contact with me when I'm nursing (it's the cutest thing! As if she's saying, "Thanks for the milk, mommy.") I love being her mother and knowing that I have been given the privilege of providing for her needs and helping her grow.
The sadness and nostalgia stem from the memory of my independent life. Gone are the days of sleeping straight and sleeping in, going out with ease without having concern for time, spontaniety, and all the rest. I did not expect to feel such a loss, but I do right now. I know that as she grows, I will become more confident in how I can help her adapt to our schedule (and create a family "life") but in the mean time I find myself longing for days gone by. I was glad to find an online forum of new moms who felt and feel exactly as I do. A part of me feels guilty for not absolutely loving motherhood since having Mischa. Don't get me wrong, I love her to bits but easing into the role of a full time caregiver (which is really what I am at this stage of her life) has been a huge adjustment that I'm still getting used to. It does, as everyone who has been where I am says, get easier. I can attest to that even in the short while that I've been a mom. Essentially, I was thrilled and relieved to chance upon this forum and to hear from other new moms who with me, defy the notion that there is something seriously wrong with moms who don't absolutely love their new role. We are the norm, not the exception.
Yes, life is not what it was a few weeks ago. But, it's all a part of my story - and God's a perfect writer.
Side note: Her name, Mischa Elle, is taken from the Hebrew nameMishael which means Who is like God?. Hence, Tim Neufeld's song below will be the first song I hope she learns to sing!
That was 5 weeks and 4 days ago. Since that day, life has not been the same and I know it never will. I write those words with both joy and sadness, anticipation and nostalgia.
The feelings of joy and anticipation are pretty self-explanatory. If you've ever had a child of your own, then you can relate. There's nothing comparable to cuddling and staring at my own flesh and blood, knowing that she grew inside me for nine months and is the perfect combination of Dale and I. That fact is still surreal to me in many ways. She brings me joy and gives me an overhwhelming desire to love her self-lessly (which is really the only way to love a child). The feeling of anticipation characterizes both each day that passes and the thought of how much she will grow in the next year and in the years to come. Every day brings a new opportunity to discover and witness her development. Just last week she started to coo and make the most adorable sounds. I'm also pretty convinced she can look me in the eye now. She always seems to make eye contact with me when I'm nursing (it's the cutest thing! As if she's saying, "Thanks for the milk, mommy.") I love being her mother and knowing that I have been given the privilege of providing for her needs and helping her grow.
The sadness and nostalgia stem from the memory of my independent life. Gone are the days of sleeping straight and sleeping in, going out with ease without having concern for time, spontaniety, and all the rest. I did not expect to feel such a loss, but I do right now. I know that as she grows, I will become more confident in how I can help her adapt to our schedule (and create a family "life") but in the mean time I find myself longing for days gone by. I was glad to find an online forum of new moms who felt and feel exactly as I do. A part of me feels guilty for not absolutely loving motherhood since having Mischa. Don't get me wrong, I love her to bits but easing into the role of a full time caregiver (which is really what I am at this stage of her life) has been a huge adjustment that I'm still getting used to. It does, as everyone who has been where I am says, get easier. I can attest to that even in the short while that I've been a mom. Essentially, I was thrilled and relieved to chance upon this forum and to hear from other new moms who with me, defy the notion that there is something seriously wrong with moms who don't absolutely love their new role. We are the norm, not the exception.
Yes, life is not what it was a few weeks ago. But, it's all a part of my story - and God's a perfect writer.
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