Better positioned to withstand attack

“Persecution doesn’t always . . . sow the seeds of revival.  When the persecution is sufficiently systematic, severe, and sustained, as it was centuries ago in places such as modern-day Libya and Saudi Arabia, the church disperses and disappears.  The persecution in Kenya and Uganda, however, failed to stamp out the flames of faith fanned by revival.  A church already broken by its own sin and desperate need for a Savior is better positioned to withstand attack.  Revival reaches Christians who recognize and admit that God is their only hope.”
Collin Hansen and John Woodbridge, A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories that Stretch and Stir (Grand Rapids, 2010), page 133.  Italics added.

Better positioned to withstand attack

is a post from: Ray Ortlund

Have You Been Set Free From Shame?

From Resurgence.
Have you been set free from shame?

Can Anyone See That I am Hurting?

13th Floor: Sexual Abuse - Janette...ikz from Pure Path on Vimeo.

Acres of Hope (Hosea 2:14-16)

He will allure her
He will pursue her
And call her out
To wilderness with flowers in His hand
She is responding
Beat up and hurting
Deserving death
But offerings of life are found instead

Proverbs 31:10... again.

I have found myself lately massaging these truths into lives around me.  Also something I am reminding myself of as well.  Too good not to re-post.

An excellent wife who can find?

  She is far more precious than jewels.

אשת־חיל מי ימצא ורחק מפנינים מכרה׃

Proverbs 31:10

I will set aside the word "wife" for now as I know a lot of single women struggle with that part - but please read Isaiah 54:5-6 while you meditate on it.  The words I want to focus on are "excellent" and "precious".  The word "excellent" comes from the Hebrew word chayil which means strength, might (especially warlike), to show oneself strong, to display valor.  This chayil woman is not a damsel in distress.  This is a woman who listens to God and obeys His commands.  A woman who does not give in to temptation but fights spiritual battles.  This is a Titus 2 woman who teaches younger women.  A woman of tested faith like that of Hannah (1 Samuel 1-2), Abigail (1 Samuel 25), Esther and Ruth.
In war, the victors take away the captive’s weapons and sheath their own - just as Christ takes away Satan's weapons and absorbs God's wrath.  Victors have the capability to use their weapons and the discernment of when to use them.  This virtuous woman is equipt with spiritual strength and discernment.  She knows when to wield the sword of the Spirit and when to listen, know, and/or speak with love and compassion.  This is an excellent woman.

Before we get on a Joan of Arc testosterone rush, I'd like to talk about the word "precious".  In some translations it says, "of  more worth than jewels," or "precious stones."  It speaks of her value.  Now, this passage is talking about a woman who, as we see later, works out her faith.  However, I do not want to miss this opportunity to speak to all daughters of the Most High God.  No matter if you were reborn yesterday, if you have strayed from the Good Shepherd, or if you have dedicated your life to Him for decades - to Him, you are lovely and precious.  Do you see yourself as valuable to God?  You are.  In Psalm 84, the sons of Korah exclaim, "How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!"  You are that dwelling place.  You are lovely.  

Paul urges the Corinthians three times (1 Corin 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corin 6:16) and again to the Ephesians (2:21) that we, children of God, are the dwelling place of the LORD!  We together are a holy temple of the living God!  You were bought at a price!  Do you know that price was the by nature pure blood of Christ?!  Do you know of how much more worth that is than jewels?  You were bought with blood that is, by its very nature, pure!  Hagnos, meaning venerable, pure from carnality, sacred... you were bought with the most valuable thing ever and ever will be in existence!  This preciousness, this value not deserved or earned but given to you freely by Christ Himself!  Preciousness that He alone can give because He alone is, by His very nature, precious.

This is a value that I don't think we can fully understand this side of heaven.  It is so wonderful I can't help but cry every time I think of it.  If this were a hand written letter, as in the time of Paul instead of a blog post, it would be warped through and through with tears.  Tears of love as I desperately desire all my sisters to know this truth.  Probably also tears of disbelief.  This is how my Abba Father sees me?!  The great I AM that I AM?!  The magnitude of this astounds me.  It fans into flame an urge for excellence that will please my Father.  Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!  Help me to fight the good fight of faith, and make me to look like Your precious Son.

JJ Heller - What Love Really Means (Official Music Video)

Taking My Own Medicine

As much as I proclaim God's word to captives and those covered in ashes, I fail to proclaim it to myself.  I don't read God's word to myself in a way that it touches the deepest hurts of my heart.  I am Much-Afraid.  The abundant life given by Christ is good beyond measure.  I want so desperately for it to be true yet the circumstances of my past continue to whisper in my ear, "Not true! This is too good for you. Okay, you can have salvation but you cannot have abundant life."

While immersed in Romans 8; 2 Corinthians 4-5 and Joel 2:25, I am remembering my own words spoken to the needy set in front of me.  Now I hope to speak to the needy in me.  What is a prophet that proclaims God's saving Word, yet doesn't hide in her heart the Word pouring from her lips?
God offers to fill my cup with living hope.  He desires to pour to the measure and I keep saying, that is enough.
The following I posted two months ago.  Time to really hear it.

In Psalm 84, the sons of Korah exclaim, "How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!"  You are that dwelling place.  You are lovely.  

Paul urges the Corinthians three times (1 Corin 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corin 6:16) and again to the Ephesians (2:21) that we, children of God, are the dwelling place of the LORD!  We together are a holy temple of the living God!  You were bought at a price!  Do you know that price was the by nature pure blood of Christ?!  Do you know of how much more worth that is than jewels?  You were bought with blood that is, by its very nature, pure!  Hagnos, meaning venerable, pure from carnality, sacred... you were bought with the most valuable thing ever and ever will be in existence!  This preciousness, this value not deserved or earned but given to you freely by Christ Himself!  Preciousness that He alone can give because He alone is, by His very nature, precious.