Often times I find myself not really knowing what to write about and not really having any idea what is even going on in my head. Today, I remembered the exercise where you set a timer for an allotted time and just write what you feel and what you think. I just let me fingers be an extension of my mind. Vulnerability at it’s finest. How refreshing it was!
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Free-flowing and no erasing. 10 minutes.
Here we go.
Why do we always knock ourselves down? Why are you always looking to improve ourselves rather than celebrate ourselves. The Lord created us to be beautiful carriers of his glory. Are we doing that? Am I doing that? If so, then let’s freaking CELEBRATE! Let’s have a party where we tell ourselves and each other how important, crucial, beautiful, worthy, intelligent, strong, and loving we are. Let’s point out all the great things in ourselves and voice them. Bring the good to light rather than the “bad.” The “bad” is generally just the Enemy knocking at the doors of our hearts carrying pales of lies to dump on us and freeze us to the bone. God is also knocking at that door. Instead of pales of ice cold lies, he has vats of refreshing, warm light to pour upon our heads. It’s a light that’s not only warm, but also sweeter than honey and more beautiful than anything we’ve ever seen. The colors that come from his truth are colors we cannot fathom. The enemy is knocking. The Father is knocking. Who will you choose to let in?
I’m tired of fire and brimstone preachers. I’m tired of being grouped as a “Christian” with them. Don’t call me a Christian. That word makes me cringe. Please, you can call me a Jesus Follower. It’s not about Heaven or Hell. It’s about bringing Heaven to earth here and now through experiencing Jesus’ great, life-altering love. It’s about loving God, loving people, and following Jesus. Forget the fire. Forget the brimstone. Enter into the gates of Papa’s courts and run straight into his embrace of love and peace. He is a God of judgment, yes. He is a righteous God though. He is one full of love. He is a God who’s anger is for a moment and His love is eternal and flowing abundantly for all peoples. Please, forget the fire and brimstone. Embrace the love of Jesus on the cross with his arms wide open and his flesh bleeding. Awaken to the revelation of the cross and the heart of Abba Father.
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Now, I was to challenge you to try this out. Whether it be on paper or on your computer. Feel free to share it someone. Email it to someone (me!). Let yourself be vulnerable. Let whatever is inside of you, whether beautiful or ugly, out and then set your pride aside and let someone see it.
I’m going to start practicing this at least once a week as a form or processing, therapy, and practicing more vulnerability.
MINISTRY UPDATE: We are trucking along in Daugavpils, Latvia! So many incredible Jesus Followers are at work here and it’s exciting to meet them all and be able to encourage them in their work. The team is getting to teach ESL “classes” here in Daugavpils with the university students next week every night from 7-9pm and we have also been given the opportunity to work at an orphanage a couple mornings as well! I am excited that we’ve met so many incredible people and that we get to do some hands on ministry, too. Pray that we continue to yield to Holy Spirit. Pray that each of us will be faithful in pressing into Abba individually every day. Pray for increased vulnerability within the team. And, finally, pray that the Lord would use us in unique and out of the box ways during our last week and a half here in Latvia!
