Heavenly Hide and Seek

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made… All things have been created through Him and for Him.” Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16, TNIV

My 4-year-old daughter loves playing “Hide and Seek”. She’ll often wrap herself in a curtain or put a blanket over her head and say, “Mum, where am I?” She loves the fun of me searching for her in the oddest of places. “Are you in the fridge Em? Maybe under the carpet?” She also loves the thrill of me finding her and giving her a cuddle.

Did you know that the very reason you exist is for God’s pleasure? Colossians 1:16 says you were made for Him. When he set the Earth in motion and inhabited it with vegetation and creatures, the pinnacle of His creation was human-beings that He would have a fulfilling and intimate relationship with! When Adam and Eve chose to act against God and tried to hide from Him, His response was not to throw His hands up in frustration - it was to seek them out (Genesis 3:8, 9). Even as they were at their lowest, God unfolded His plan to them. One day their descendant would be responsible for conquering the very force that pushed them away from Him! Sin and shame would no longer have the upper hand.

Only a week ago we were celebrating Christmas, which marks the event of Jesus birth on Earth. He was the one spoken about in the very beginning. Throughout history humanity has continued the pattern of acting contrary to God and His character, turning away from Him and holding onto their ignorance and shame. Yet, God has already provided the solution through Jesus and He continues to pursue the very relationship He created us for! He has sought you out and will continue to. There’s no need to hide anymore.

What can comfort my heart?

I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here. Colossians 4:8,9 NKJV

I have made a few discoveries about myself during this strange season of "spiritual stocktaking" as one friend called it. One discovery is that I really want to be understood. Looks like Paul realised this need - he was sending Tychicus to the Colossians so that he could understand their circumstances and comfort them. Wonder who my Tychicus will be...only Jesus I guess. He knows it all.

Giving heartily to the Lord

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23,24 NKJV

So I'm thinking a lot about how I have reached my emotional capacity and what needs to be trimmed back for me to give my best to God, my husband and kids...I don't want to give it begrudgingly and I don't want it to be squeezed out of me. I like the word heartily. I want to give it heartily. I think the result of continual disappointment has brought me to this place of knowing that I will never please anyone and that's ok. Even in this place I can still give myself heartily to God. Why? Because He's satisfying, He's rejuvenating, He's rewarding in every sense of the word.

Called to peace, so peace will come

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

So the girls turn up for a worship practice at my place last night and walk into the chaos and madness of the kids putting on bedtime antics! Food is flying everywhere, naked little boys run wild through the house and their mother is equally as frazzled. Not so much peace ruling this night. Once the kids stop appearing from their beds and the instruments are out, my head is completely empty and I can't even remember what I'm praising God for! But as we sing with each other, and perhaps even for each other, it comes. The gratitude to God. And the peace.

Let the peace reign...

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17 NIV

It's been a few days since I've been able to make sense of much in my head and I haven't really had a spare moment to blog. Even now I'm not sure if I have anything to say, but a very good friend of mine prompted me to do this so we'll see what comes out.

 

I was thinking about the connection between forgiveness and peace. I wondered if I am experiencing a lack of peace because there's still people I need to forgive. Maybe. Maybe it's God I feel I need to forgive. Maybe. I am definitely feeling very frustrated and disappointed. I am carrying around the feeling that my blood is boiling. I am desperately trying not to let it pour out at my husband and kids. Jesus, let Your peace rule inside my heart once more. Show me who to forgive and give me the power to do it.

Renewal

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Colossians 3:9-11 NKJV

These verses jumped out at me today because I realised on the weekend that God is reconstructing me. That explains the emotional rollercoaster ride! We really can go on for a long time without noticing things in our character that we'd function so much better without! I don't think God looks at us and says "I can't believe I made them like that" then goes about "fixing" us, but I do think He enjoys weaving more and more of His character into ours. The process can be... painful... unnerving... embarrassing... but being renewed in knowledge according to God's image and experiencing more of Christ in us ends up being liberating... enlightening... empowering and even exhilarating!

Living between two worlds

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3 NIV

Often there's a tension between knowing God has a perfect plan and purpose, living out of that place of peace and then experiencing the emotions attached to day to day circumstances. When saying goodbye to my close friend this week, grief keeps pushing me between these two places but setting my heart on things above means I can experience the joy of my memories and the purposes God has sewn into this friendship. In fact it's left me appreciating the glimpses of heaven running through all my friendships!

Christ in you, the Hope of glory

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. Colossians 1:27-29 NKJV

My husband and I were talking thismorning about whether some things have to give when you go down the track of having a big family and being in ministry. It was only a short conversation. We decided we just prioritise things differently! It's definitely hard work but everyone is laboring in some way; that I've learnt. Thank you Jesus that when You are working in us mightily, the laboring is more like pushing a trolley straight through a supermarket (hard work, but worth it in the end) than lifting a piano up a 10-story flight of stairs (just ridiculously hard work - no-one needs a piano that much)!

All things by Him, through Him and for Him

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:15-10 NKJV

That's right, He is incredible and He fashioned YOU for Himself. Enough said. Well, almost enough. I was thinking tonight about the creative power that my King embodies and it lifted my spirit just thinking about what He could create through me. There are no limitations really! "Keep on dreaming", I felt Him say to me. So I have created another page - a page that will contain songs that flow from my devotional times. 

Partaking in the inheritance

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Colossians 1:9-12 NKJV

I have many fond memories attached to this passage. While at Uni I lived with my relatives. At the beginning of each year my cousin and I would set goals based on these verses. We saw elements in this passage that gave us things to aim for, things we wanted to see happen in our lives. I don't ever remember it being a burden because we knew it was a framework rather than something we had to stress and strive for. Even back then, we knew that what was most important was that we spent time with Jesus and that His inheritance would be the wisdom, the ability to walk worthy, the fruit, the power, the patience, and the joy that would transform the year ahead into something to look forward to!

A faith, a love and a hope that's come into this world

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth. Colossians 1:3-6 NKJV

A very good friend of mine asked me if I was a "shouter" this week. Do I let people know when I'm in need? I said I'm getting better at it. I am in need now. I really want you to pray these verses for us. I asked God on the weekend why I kept crying. He said to me that He was growing in me a deeper hunger to see His Kingdom flood this earth, to see His people rise up, link arms and be His hands and feet. He told me that He takes us into these deep places of emotional rawness to compel us with His heart for freedom and power in the lives of people. His heart is deep. Tapping into it can leave me shaky. I was shaking while playing the keys at church on Sunday. I watched my hands shaking and realised God is doing something new in me. My yearning desire is that this new thing will reverberate throughout my surroundings...This morning God encouraged me that His fruit has been amoung us since the day we heard and knew of His grace...

I've added a new link to this page - I'm slowly uploading the pages of a book that's been brewing inside of me since going through my darkest days almost four years ago now. It's called The Women of Virtue and it's a work in progress. I strongly believe that nothing with lasting impact comes without a story behind it worth telling. There is purpose in everything.