Like Grabbing the Trophy

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."-Romans 8:37

Imagine your favorite team winning the championship in their respective sport. The game is, over and the crowd roaring. The captain lifts that massive trophy above his head for everyone to see. Now imagine yourself, a lone fan, sprinting down onto the field, court, or rink, tapping that dude on the shoulder and asking if maybe you could also lift that trophy up and then afterward take it home with you and keep it in your room for the rest of your life so that you could show everyone you know and gaze at it every morning when you wake up. Wouldn't that be pretty strange? You didn't do anything to deserve that victory, so why would you get to relish so directly in it?

Come on brothers and sisters, Jesus paid for the victory and now he invites us to boast in it and directly reap all of the life-changing benefits of his work on the cross. Imagine him calling you out of the crowd from his triumphal seat on the throne, sitting victorious over death and Satan, offering to celebrate the victory with him and tell everyone you know about it! Do we gaze at the splendor of victory through Jesus every morning when we wake up?   

Mysterious Friend

"that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of the understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ" -Colossians 2:2 

Full assurance and some unrevealed mystery, don't we all desire that in a relationship? We have the ultimate security in Jesus, he will NEVER walk out or prove untrustworthy. Life with him is exciting, as he is continually revealing himself and his plan for our lives to us in his perfect timing.

Desperation

"And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelves years of age, and she was dying." -Luke 8:41 

Jesus goes on to bring Jairus's daughter back to life. I think we run the risk of missing the power of that if we just figure "there he goes again, doing miracles." Picture it though, or read on through verse 56. Jesus responds to Jairus's faith and desperation, comes to see his daughter, says "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping." Then everyone laughs at him. Apparently they think they know better than he does about matters of life and death. Then in this climactic moment, I just picture Jesus nonchalantly saying, "Child arise," as she's filled with life again. Then he tells them to go get her something to eat (that's funny considering a minute ago they were laughing at his saying that she's not dead...I wonder if he chuckled as he said that).
Don't we have things in our lives that we think are dead? Maybe it's a dream, hope, direction, purpose, relationships, passion, fire for his word. Jesus does not ignore desperate calls for his power in our lives. Let's be willing to fall at his feet, Jairus did and Jesus did miraculous work!  

Triumphal Procession

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." -2 Corinthians 2:14

I like knowing that as a follower of Christ, I am always walking in a triumphal procession. Not everything in life is going to seem to go our way when we want it to, but when the goal is his glory, any circumstance we find ourselves in will be productive. It's pretty sweet to know that no venture in him is wasted. 

Complaining about Free Water Ice

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." -Ephesians 2:8 

Tuesday was free Rita's water ice day in celebration of the first day of spring. Being the cheap college student that I am, I stood with my roommate in a line of Philadelphia locals for over 35 minutes, waiting for my free, medium, cup of chilled sugar. Needless to say, I heard and observed some very interesting things while waiting.
The girl behind me in line complained the entire time about how "it's free water ice, it should be fast...I have things to do....I can't believe we have to wait so long." At first, I was slightly disgusted by how ridiculous she was being. It's free, I thought to myself, how can you complain about something you're getting for nothing. Who cares if you have to wait? At the end of the day, you're getting something that you don't deserve. Well....quickly my self-righteous attitude was turned on me, as the Holy Spirit reminded me of how frequently I have this same attitude, but applied to an far weightier discontent. Far too many times, I have grown frustrated with the Lord because of where he has me, what I'm doing, and yes indeed,  as to why in the world I have to wait for blessings I have hope he'll provide. I soon grew disgusted with myself. Every breath, moment, and blessing is more than I deserve. Who am I to complain? 

When Daddy Can't Stop Smiling

"He will take great delight in you;
 in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

but will rejoice over you with singing.”

-Zephaniah 3:17

Newly added to my list of top 25 most beautiful things this side of heaven....new daddies standing outside of the nursery gleaming at their hour old children on the other side of the glass. I watched as this beautiful first time father, stood outside of the nursery with the biggest smile you could imagine on his face, eyes following his son all around the nursery, waiting in anticipation for his return into his arms. This gave me an amazing picture of God....

#1.) He delights joyfully in our existence. I cannot possibly wrap my brain around this one, but I like to picture the Lord smiling down on us every day, amazingly, without regard to the reality that we ignore his presence daily.

#2.) He never takes his eyes off of us. I think of that dad watching carefully as we cleaned, assessed and medicated his son. Regardless of whether or not the little guy was crying, dad was right there, smiling away. He understood that the temporary trials of needle-sticks and a good scrub down were all a part of what his son needed to be cleanses and protected. Sound familiar to how our heavenly Father operates?

#3.) He anticipates time with us. That daddy hadn't been apart from his son for more than two minutes before he tracked down his whereabouts  and waited anxiously by his side to snatch him up in his arms again. Little did that little boy know how intimate the time with his father would be in those first couple days of life.

Brothers and sister, the Lord delights in you, he desires your affection, and covets your love. Be amazed by that!   

Eyes for Lies

"I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness." -Isaiah 42:6-7 

What are some lies that you believe deep down in your heart? Those notions that the enemy has planted that prevent you from experiencing the love of Jesus every second of every day....those perceptions of yourself and others that hinder you from the kingdom work you were made for. We've all got some.
    I'm not worthy
    I'll never be good enough
    He doesn't really love me
   I've messed up too many times
    The world would function just the same without me 
   I deserve to be hurt 
   If only I             then              . 

There's such power in these words in Isaiah 42 that reveal to us the beautiful fact that Jesus came to give us an eye to expose those lies, to pour out his grace on us that we may no longer be blind and see his love. What would life be like if we accepted that grace daily and embraced that vision?