Last week I posted over at the MODsquad blog about my first date with Piper. I’d like to encourage you to hop over, take a look and be inspired to take your own t’ween challenge!
Yesterday, I’m standing at my favorite gas station … the one that declares it’s faith boldly by pumping Christian music to each island. As I was filling my tank with gas, my eyes started filling with tears as the words of the song playing washed over me. It’s one of my favorites, Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns.
I could dissect each line of this song. Each time I hear it, a different truth is spoken to me. Yesterday I hear:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, “Do not be afraid!”
And the voice of truth says, “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I would choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
But backing up further to when I got out of bed yesterday morning, this is the truth I was repeating to myself:
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
And to drive the point home further to me … at church during worship we sang this truth:
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
Matt Redman, You Never Let Go
In full disclosure … I’m afraid. I was afraid to land at the airport. I spent this past weekend afraid to open my front door. I’m afraid of this coming week. And I’m afraid of what the next few weeks might hold for my family’s future.
Fear is also creeping in about what the “world” thinks of me.
Yes. I’m afraid. Terrified really.
But that’s my voice of truth. It’s loud. And it’s screaming inside of me and beginning to drown out the real Voice of Truth.
I’m preparing for the battle of my life … of my family’s life … and I can’t do it on my own. I need to put on all of the armor God’s made available to me {Ephesians 6:12-19}.
Theologically, I know the promises of His Word. I know I have nothing to fear. I know He is with me.
But my spirit? My spirit is weak … and full of fear.
Have you ever found yourself feeling this way? You know, and believe what God tells us. But sometimes … sometimes the outside noise gets so loud, you can’t hear the real Truth?
That’s where I’m at. I need to shut off the noise around me and close myself in with the Truth.
I need to quiet myself, my spirit, my surroundings as Psalm 46:10 sweetly reminds me … “be still and know that I am God.”
I’ll be spending this week and possibly the next few, arming myself for the battle of my life.
Place these words on your hearts.
Get them deep inside you.
Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder.
Teach them to your children.
Talk about them wherever you are,
sitting at home or walking in the street;
talk about them from the time you get up in the
morning until you fall into bed at night.
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 {The Message}
Hunter was with me in the church bookstore last Wednesday night, when she fell in love with a bible and begged asked to have it. As you can see in the photo I gave in bought it for her. But seriously, can you really turn your child down when they’re asking for a bible?
Anyway.
She proceeded to walk around church for the next 20 minutes “reading” her new bible. And when she so-very-excitedly told me she “found the red words!” my heart went to mush. I asked if she knew what the red words were and she replied “they’re God’s words.” The red words in the bible are indeed the words that Jesus spoke while on earth. Be-still-my-heart.
Sometimes I so worry that I’m not sharing enough, I’m not being intentional enough, we’re not in scripture enough, we’re not doing devotions enough, I’m not teaching enough. Do you ever feel the same?
And then they surprise you with something you had no idea they understood … “the red words.”
Recently, we had a long drive in the car and the girls brought Apples to Apples {bible edition} along. The girls would get to bigger words “prodigal, martyr, obedience” and they’d ask me questions about them. We talked about the Red Sea, Passover and the story of the Prodigal Son … I was amazed as I would start to tell the story or meaning, they’d excitedly take over and finish the story.
All this to say, if we can stay steadfast in our teachings and talkings and bringing them to church … these words, stories and their meanings will grow deep into the hearts of our children. And then into their children’s children …
I recently went to a screening of Blue Like Jazz, loosely based on the book, Blue Like Jazz from author Donald Miller. Donald’s tagline on the book is “Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality” and he pretty much brings that tagline into the movie.
The film has a PG-13 rating and isn’t a typical feel-good “Christian” film, instead it explores Christianity in a raw, honest, and thought provoking way. It definitely isn’t for the judgmental … here are a few of my thoughts {if you’re reading through an RSS feed, be sure to pop over to my blog to view the video} …
I really, really encourage you to see the film and if you can make it this weekend … opening weekend, it would benefit the film and future Christian films greatly! And if you can’t make it this weekend, go as soon as you can! :)
Please be so kind to share this with a friend?
Other resources:
Donald Miller’s blog
Reviews of Blue Like Jazz
Does God Exist {thoughts from Don}
Donald Miller on Facebook
Donald Miller on Twitter {#bluelikejazz}
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