Forgiven and Loved

"Child you are forgiven, and child you are loved.
Child you are forgiven and free!"

This is from one of my favorite Jimmy Needham songs.  A song I have been listening to on repeat all week.  It was Christ's love that first compelled me to Him.  I had been so wounded that it seemed to me impossible that someone could love me.  Someone does love me, so much that He died for me.  I couldn't believe it, but the Holy Spirit lead me to believe when it was impossible that I would.  Since then, there has been this conflicting pull in my heart.  The Holy Spirit pulling me up, reassuring me that I am a child of God; and my heart pulling me down retorting that that is too good to be true. 

This past week I was given a clearer look at my sin and wounds.  It looks pretty bleak.  My offenses against God are pretty horrific.  The worst of all is disbelieving that the God of the Universe, who sacrificed His only son - Christ the sinless God man - to be a propitiation for my sins so that I may be God's beloved child, loves me.  This is the worst insult to God.  I know it is, I believe it is, yet I still struggle to believe that the by nature pure blood is for me.  Doesn't that seem to good to be true?

What struck me this week is, in light of this great offense, God still loves me.  There is nothing I can do, nothing I can say (short of blaspheming the Holy Spirit) that will cause Him to love me any less.  Nothing I can do, nothing I can say will cause Him to love me any less.  Nothing you can do, nothing you can say will cause Him to love you any less.  Nothing anyone can do to us, nothing anyone can say to us will cause Him to love us any less.

In a world where father will forsake his child, a mother has no compassion on the child she bore, a trusted friend withdraws, a spouse betrays... our God will not.  Our God will not forsake us.  Our God has compassion.  Our God will be with us even to the end of the age.  It is easier for the king sitting at the head of the table to believe this, but oh, the reverence of the dog under the table, accustomed to being kicked when underfoot!

My Dear Sisters

You 

are 

lovely.

The scriptures declare in grace,
"How lovely is the Lord's dwelling place."
So I say in the presence of His face,
my sisters, you are lovely.
But when you forget,
the one who paid your debt,
marred to death in blood and sweat,
who counted it joy with no regret,
my sisters, you begin to drift.

You run with the crowd,
wayward and loud.
you say, indignant and proud
"I'm only a little flirt,
just a small hike of my skirt,
one more button down of my shirt,"
until you are in full revert,
dressed like a prostitute.
Your feet never stay at home,
now in the street, now in the square
in every corner you roam.
All while praising His name,
and worshiping His fame?
Thinking you are the queen,
screaming, "Listen to me sing,"
Girl that action must be forsaken,
or your crown will be taken.

Soon you are inert,
no way to avert,
stained and hurt,
like an ox being lead to the slaughter,
and you lead your brothers there too.

Do not deny it,
I am a woman too,
I've been there too,
maybe not exactly the same as you,
but I've been there too.
The sting of rejection,
the strain of comparison,
billboards, music videos, reality TV and celebrity.
And sometimes closer to home,
the worship singer,
community group leader,
the 'it' girl, male attention feeder.
Yes, we even do it to each other.

Do not trip another woman's insecurity switch
with your own finger digging in to pull out a stitch
keep walking that road my sister, and there will be silence.

Do you know you do it out of fear?
Fear of what you'll lose...
adoration, confirmation, exultation,
they are Satan's ruse.
My sister, why cling to what you can loose? 
Pursue a heart changed by the only One you cannot.

So I will say to those with a fearful heart,
Fear not!
Behold your God will come
with vengeance He won't stop 'till its done,
O, yes, you are forgiven in Love.
He will come,
and save you,
deliver you,
care for you.
He will wipe every tear from your face,
taking away your disgrace,
that cannot be hidden in make-up and lace,
for the Lord has spoken!

Do not be jealous, deceived or reprieved
remember the day you first believed! 
Do not forget Christ's righteousness has been given to you!
You are clothed with strength and dignity!
Please do not give that away,
a little flirting for play,
a pet sin promised to save,
to the guy that is willing to pay,
my sister, that is prostitution.
Remember your restitution,
in the constitution of Christ!

© Jennifer Lynn - 2010

What are You Afraid of?

If I truly believe that Christ died, was buried and rose again, breathing into me life with the guarantee of the Holy Spirit, proving that all surpassing power belongs to God, what am I afraid of?  In light of this truth - these promises - what could possibly shake me?

The Maker of heaven and earth, will:

• perfect everything that concerns you (Psalm 138:8)
• work all things together for your good (Rom 8:28)
• contend with those who contend with you (Is 49:25)
• fight this battle for you (2 Chron 20:15)
• equip you with divine power (2 Corin 10:4)
• delight to show you mercy (Micah 7:18)
• meet all your needs according to the glorious riches in Jesus Christ (Philip 4:19)
• give you grace that is perfectly sufficient (2 Corin 12:9)
• be your power in weakness (2 Corin 12:9)
• do immeasurably more than all you could ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within you (Eph 3:20)
• He who began a good work in you and will bring it to completion (Phil 1:6)

Christ is our intercessor who will live forever.  The only priest who will not die. He has conquered death.  What makes me think I should fear anything/anyone but God?  "I believe, Lord, help my unbelief," comes to mind.  Clearly, I am in need of a deeper understanding of peace in Christ.  A deeper trust of God.  Release the white knuckle grip I have on my life and circumstances and just laugh at the days to come because I have this treasure.  The Maker of the universe is protecting me.  Of what shall I be afraid?

You Just Lost One...

Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹²For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

You have two choices; one of them is Jesus.

Nothing Can Separate Us!

Romans 8:37-39:

    ³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

October Security

I really dislike October.  Every year I forget, and every year it rolls in like a fog.  Once again, I feel like I am standing on top of a totem pole and someone is at the bottom chopping away. 

Earlier this year, a good friend suggested I read, So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore.  It turned out to be one of the most encouraging and helpful books I have ever read.  It met me right where I was and showed me how I was giving away my strength, dignity, security in Christ, and Christ's righteousness that has been credited to me.  I was giving away the gifts that God had given me!

I realize my past life has made me susceptible to these feelings and actions; but now I have Christ to cover me! 

To my sisters in Christ who are struggling, I would like to pass on these words from Beth Moore (and highly recommend you read her book).  I remind myself with these words daily.  They have been a wonderful help in keeping the gifts of my Father and protecting from the enemy's flaming arrows.

 In Jesus' name, I am clothed with strength and dignity!

You can hurt my feelings, but you cannot have my security.  I won't let you.  It's mine to keep.  You cannot have it.  You can criticize me and even be right about what i did wrong, but you do not get to damage my security.  It's mine to keep.  You cannot have it.
 

You might have embarrassed me, but I refuse to let it fall on me so heavily that it smothers my security.  It's mine to keep.  You cannot have it.
 

You may be so intimidating and threatening that I feel I have to hand a lot of things to you, but I refuse to hand over my security.  Who you are doesn't get to dwarf who I am.  My security is mine to keep.  You cannot have it.
You do not get to go that deep.  I refuse to let your words to go all the way from my ears to the core of who I am.  Nope, I'm not doing it.

You may have broken my heart and shaken me up, but you cannot have my security.  I will not give it up to you or anyone else.  I am a woman of God, clothed in strength and dignity, and no one gets to take those things from me.
 
In Jesus' name, I am clothed with strength and dignity!

Beautiful Garden

This garden is so beautiful,

it leads me to rejoicing.

I am sewing in tears,

I will reap with shouts of joy.

Oh Lord it is dark,

I cannot see,

This hurts so much,

won't let me be.

I am so scared,

let me see Your face,

I want to be like You,

Your lines may I trace?

Please remind me, Lord,

this fog please destroy,

You have done great things for me,

and I was filled with joy.

This garden is so beautiful,

it leads me to rejoicing.

I am sewing in tears,

I will reap with shouts of joy.

© Jennifer Lynn - 2010