John 3:30 "He must become greater; I must become less."
So I've seen these window decals and bumper stickers for years. They look like this:
I never took too much time to think about them. I always, in my mind, read them as Heki... Not sure why... but I thought someone was just being clever and using the >symbol with an i to make a backwards K. I don't know. Call me silly.
Well, recently I've been diving into math and learning lots of awesome new strategies. I drive by a truck almost daily in my neighborhood with this image on the back window. All of a sudden, I read it OUT LOUD. Heki. Wait... He > i.... He is greater than I? Oh, man! That makes sense! Did I just make this up? That's really cool if it means He (God) is greater than I (me)! Maybe it's not Heki afterall...
So a few weeks have gone by and I finally remember to Google it. Sure enough, it's a company in Hawaii that got an idea to use the greater symbol and create the brand of He is greater than I. The verse they had in mind for the logo was John 3:30 "He must become greater' I must become less."
It make so much sense. What a clever reminder in today's new math world to remind ourselves of the fact that He IS greater than we are. Until we decide to really believe that and put all of our eggs in that basket of faith, it won't make sense. I have to say, once you do decide to believe, your world will never be the same. Every step you take and every thought you have begins to remind you how great He really is. I'm excited to get this decal... now that I know what it really says. I'm even more excited to explain it's meaning to others who may just think it is a neat sticker.
Anchored by His Love
Monday, August 4, 2014
Friday, July 25, 2014
I Should Be...
I’ve always wanted to be “that” person. “That” person who
has it all together. You know. “It!” It can be pretty much anything. Or
It can be everything. To me, “it” is pretty much both. I tell myself that I
should be the one who…
- Loves the unloving.
- Gives grace (even to the people who drive me nuts!)
- Cooks a great dinner for her family. Every night. With the table set. Maybe even candles once in a while. Napkins, too. That would be nice. Always having napkins available.
- encourages her husband and has noble character.
- raises a respectful, patient, God-loving son.
- has laughter and can laugh at the days to come.
- respects her parents and shows them each day how much she loves them.
- Stands by her brother's side and supports him with unconditional love and encouragement.
- Spends quality time with her nieces and nephews and has that unbreakable bond.
- Engages in conversation about how the day went and what I’m blessed with.
- Has morning quiet time with the Lord each day.
- Forgives—truly forgives—and moves on from the past.
- Calls or visits family members every day.
- Sends a note of encouragement to a friend.
- Recites and memorizes scripture.
- Exercises and eats healthy.
- Keeps a clean house without dust and cobwebs or scuffs on the walls, baseboards, and doors.
- Gets to work early to make sure the day is ready for the kids.
- Spends each moment with my own kids.
- Doesn’t text too much.
- Doesn’t check Facebook or Instagram too many times each day.
- Volunteers for “things” (while keeping it all together and not grumbling).
- Cooks dinners for friends who’ve just had a life change.
- Goes to a weekly Bible study.
- Travels.
- Takes bubble baths while drinking wine and reading a good book.
- Keeps in touch with old friends while making new friends.
- Grows homemade vegetables.
- Keeps a beautiful garden with vibrant flowers… and doesn’t kill them.
- Plans a menu for the week and then clips coupons in order to purchase my supplies at the cheapest price possible therefore saving money.
- Doesn’t buy the skirt that is SO cute and obviously made “just for me”.
- Reads books in a day.
- Stays connected to what’s going on in the world.
- Gives blankets and canned goods to the needy.
- Helps at the local shelter or soup kitchen (and honestly, shouldn't I know where our local shelter or soup kitchen is??).
So, I don’t have the spotless house. I rarely have dinner made. My crops and flowers tend to be under-watered, brown and crispy, and barely hanging on to life. I really don’t like bubble baths—I prefer a shower. Getting motivated to exercise is just extremely difficult. I also enjoy my sweet treats. I sometimes remember to call or text a friend to offer encouragement, and I am rarely that person who brings a meal when I know I need to—and even when I really want to.
. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load. 6Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Our Cray-Cray Lord...
Welcome to Anchored by His Love...
So, God is what I called "cray, cray" this morning. I literally prayed to Him, "Lord, you are so cray cray... insane in the membrane... In such a GOOD way." I couldn't help but go back to my early teen years when praying, because this morning's quiet time was SO amazing. An old friend who I had built barriers with (you know, those healthy "it's easier to stuff them than to talk about it and start conflict" barriers that then build walls and leave relationships feeling destroyed due to their lack of communication barriers) came over and shared with me last night. She needed someone to trust and to talk to. So she told me how in her marriage, it's just "not there" anymore and she just feels as though it's easier to give up and just take her daughter and go... my heart ached for her and what she was feeling-- all the while I was praying, "Lord, Jesus, please don't ever let me get so down about my marriage that I want to give up completely!"
After she shared with me about her marriage, she then became brutally honest with me asking me if she had done something to hurt me and why our friendship seemed so... damaged. Of course I lied and said nothing was wrong... because it's easier that way. She left feeling better that she'd had a friend to talk to about her "failing marriage" and feeling better about being honest with me... but I went inside feeling like an awful friend for STILL not being honest about why we'd drifted. So. I prayed. I prayed that God would give me the words to speak to my friend about her marriage. I asked that He would fill me with the Holy Spirit and I could give her words of wisdom for her marriage. I also prayed that he would help me get to an honest place where I could tell her the truth about our friendship.
SO- the "cray, cray" part about God? This morning, the very next page in my Lysa Terkeurst "Unglued" book was "The Stuffer Who Builds Barriers." WHAT? HA,HA,HA. That IS so ME! As I read the pages aloud to my husband, we both just sat in awe about how I fit that section to a T. I am that girl who feels as though it's easier to just avoid the conflict. Smile and say everything is just fine...even when my heart has been hurt. I'll stuff it so well and act so nice about it as I quietly go off into my own place and build a beautiful wall... a wall that eventually tears down a relationship and leaves the other person going... "Um, what happened there?" It's just easier that way... isn't it? I guess it's "easier" until it's just... not. It's toxic to my growth with God and my heart.
After that amazing conviction, I opened up my e-mail only to find today's devotion... about MARRIAGE! I was able to read it and share it this morning with my friend who is struggling. That's the crazy part. It felt like God answered my prayer SO quickly with such wonderful devotions.The title of today's devotion is called "Where More Loving Begins" and it was written by Erin Smalley. It was beautifully written and a great reminder that we cannot change anyone, including our spouse, BUT! (Aren't you ever so grateful that there is a BUT?!) God can change US. Our hearts. Let go and let Him... that's what I try so hard to do... But I'm also human (Oh, that's when I don't like the "but") and Satan gets the best of me on most days. BUT (a good but this time) I'm making imperfect progress! I'm so incredibly thankful for Proverbs 31.
So there you have it. God is CRAY-CRAY amazing. I believe, full heartedly, there's a reason that this devotion was sent to me today after my prayers last night. I'm in awe of His amazement and it never ceases to impress me that these devotions feel like they're so directly written for me.
I pray for guidance and wisdom every day, and that he will continue to show me where I can grow... and I can remember that I am anchored. I am anchored by Him. (Hebrews 6:19)
So, God is what I called "cray, cray" this morning. I literally prayed to Him, "Lord, you are so cray cray... insane in the membrane... In such a GOOD way." I couldn't help but go back to my early teen years when praying, because this morning's quiet time was SO amazing. An old friend who I had built barriers with (you know, those healthy "it's easier to stuff them than to talk about it and start conflict" barriers that then build walls and leave relationships feeling destroyed due to their lack of communication barriers) came over and shared with me last night. She needed someone to trust and to talk to. So she told me how in her marriage, it's just "not there" anymore and she just feels as though it's easier to give up and just take her daughter and go... my heart ached for her and what she was feeling-- all the while I was praying, "Lord, Jesus, please don't ever let me get so down about my marriage that I want to give up completely!"
After she shared with me about her marriage, she then became brutally honest with me asking me if she had done something to hurt me and why our friendship seemed so... damaged. Of course I lied and said nothing was wrong... because it's easier that way. She left feeling better that she'd had a friend to talk to about her "failing marriage" and feeling better about being honest with me... but I went inside feeling like an awful friend for STILL not being honest about why we'd drifted. So. I prayed. I prayed that God would give me the words to speak to my friend about her marriage. I asked that He would fill me with the Holy Spirit and I could give her words of wisdom for her marriage. I also prayed that he would help me get to an honest place where I could tell her the truth about our friendship.
SO- the "cray, cray" part about God? This morning, the very next page in my Lysa Terkeurst "Unglued" book was "The Stuffer Who Builds Barriers." WHAT? HA,HA,HA. That IS so ME! As I read the pages aloud to my husband, we both just sat in awe about how I fit that section to a T. I am that girl who feels as though it's easier to just avoid the conflict. Smile and say everything is just fine...even when my heart has been hurt. I'll stuff it so well and act so nice about it as I quietly go off into my own place and build a beautiful wall... a wall that eventually tears down a relationship and leaves the other person going... "Um, what happened there?" It's just easier that way... isn't it? I guess it's "easier" until it's just... not. It's toxic to my growth with God and my heart.
After that amazing conviction, I opened up my e-mail only to find today's devotion... about MARRIAGE! I was able to read it and share it this morning with my friend who is struggling. That's the crazy part. It felt like God answered my prayer SO quickly with such wonderful devotions.The title of today's devotion is called "Where More Loving Begins" and it was written by Erin Smalley. It was beautifully written and a great reminder that we cannot change anyone, including our spouse, BUT! (Aren't you ever so grateful that there is a BUT?!) God can change US. Our hearts. Let go and let Him... that's what I try so hard to do... But I'm also human (Oh, that's when I don't like the "but") and Satan gets the best of me on most days. BUT (a good but this time) I'm making imperfect progress! I'm so incredibly thankful for Proverbs 31.
So there you have it. God is CRAY-CRAY amazing. I believe, full heartedly, there's a reason that this devotion was sent to me today after my prayers last night. I'm in awe of His amazement and it never ceases to impress me that these devotions feel like they're so directly written for me.
I pray for guidance and wisdom every day, and that he will continue to show me where I can grow... and I can remember that I am anchored. I am anchored by Him. (Hebrews 6:19)
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