bible.com/bible/116/2co.5.13-15.NLT
“If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.”
2 Corinthians 5:13-15 NLT
bible.com/bible/116/2co.5.7.NLT
“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.”
2 Corinthians 5:1-9 NLT
bible.com/bible/116/2co.4.16-17.NLT
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT
Everyone goes through occasions when God feels distant. Sometimes life distracts us and we allow our hearts to be drawn away by the whirlwinds of busyness and stress. Our prayers become dry, reading his Word feels like a chore, and it seems his voice is silent. But right there, on the flip side of this wilderness and only a breath away, is the manifest presence of God.
If you’ve lost sight of him, reach out again. Allow him to embrace you. Even if you don’t sense it at first, you will. Still your thoughts and begin to remember what his touch was like. Once you’ve been in his presence, you already know the way. If you’ve never encountered the profound love of God, ask him to come near and pour it out. Sing your songs of worship. Let words of praise and gratefulness catapult you right into his love. He is waiting.
Father, I don’t want the seasons of hardship and distraction to guide my future. Come meet with me. Lead me by the hand into glorious encounters. Crash upon my heart like a waterfall. Soak every dry place. Whisper words of love that awaken my spirit. I turn my spirit and soul to you.
From “The Divine Romance” written by Brian Simmons and Gretchen Rodriguez
Listen, my radiant one—if you ever lose sight of me, just follow in my footsteps where I lead my lovers. Come with your burdens and cares. Come to the place near the sanctuary of my shepherds. Song of Songs 1:8 TPT
bible.com/bible/116/2co.4.9.NLT
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NLT
I read this testimony today and thought we could learn from it. It’s a true story of a young single mother and her experience with what she called the infamous “church lady.” I’m sharing this since we may have experienced it ourselves under different circumstances. As you read this, I’m not pointing the finger at anyone; I’m pointing out that the New Church Lady is what we all desire to be through Christ.
The Infamous Church Lady!
As someone who has lived well over half of her life scared to death of Christians and especially the infamous “church lady,” – I remember vividly what it was like to be unchurched and unsaved and un- everything.
Like it was yesterday.
I wanted nothing to do with Christianity and the church and their Jesus.
I can remember pulling into church parking lots again and again and sitting there bawling my eyes out as I watched married couple after married couple walk inside the holy doors of we have it all together -sorry about your luck.
I never had the courage to actually go inside.
Then finally, I can remember it taking everything I had to walk in those dreaded doors one Sunday morning with my baby girl in my arms. I was an unwed single mama raising a baby on about $6.00 an hour and no support of any kind. I left the trailer that morning and looked at the gift that I didn’t deserve and told her we were going to give this Jesus a try. I cried the entire way there and wondered if I looked nice enough, good enough, clean enough, churchy-enough.
I wondered if all of the perfect people would be able to see me past the missing wedding ring and the beautiful baby girl on my hip.
I wondered if they would embrace me. Accept me. Allow me in- in spite of my circumstances and in spite of my mistakes.
I’m sorry to share that I walked into a sea of judgement and condemnation during that season of my life.
And unfortunately it caused me to leave the church for nearly a decade.
Because when you are struggling with the lie that is “there is no way that a holy God could love a girl like me.” And you are hanging on by a thread because life has just been too much….
Every moment counts.
The way you are received and welcomed or not.
The way the caregivers receive your child with kindness or not.
The way a seat is made available for you or not.
The way you are looked down upon, questioned or interrogated by church members or hopefully not.
The way someone took the time to speak with you or not.
The way you are shamed and condemned or accepted and loved.
All of those things and so much more are some of the reasons that people will give church and ultimately Jesus another chance.
But one of the biggest reasons I walked away was this. I didn’t want what they had.
They made it loud and clear to me what they were against.
But they failed to demonstrate what they were for.
I didn’t want to be judgmental and critical and look down my nose at folks.
I didn’t want to spend my time pointing out other peoples sin and making them feel worse than and less than the thousand ways they already felt like a failure.
I’ve spent lots of time over the years listening to the hearts of the brokenhearted and the downcast and the overlooked and the shamed and those who have been cast aside by society.
And I’ve listened.
And learned so much.
Mainly I’ve learned what I want to stand for.
I believe that God is raising up a new “church lady” in this generation.
The following words are beautiful truths that I have seen shifting in the hearts of women who want to be known for following Jesus.
She will truly have His heart and His eyes to see sons and daughters when she looks at His people.
She will be a doer of the word and not a hearer only.
She will refuse to judge and condemn and do her best to love people back to wholeness.
She will be a fountain of mercy and grace and one who will breathe life back into dry bones.
She will know that it is the love of God that breaks every yoke.
She will be a living epistle of love and humility and will demonstrate the scriptures with kindness and gentleness and compassion.
She will give credit where credit is due.
She will point others to Him. She will give Him all the glory. All of the honor. All of the credit.
She will understand fully- the truth that is this. If it were not for the grace of God- there go I.
She will reach to the back row and encourage and minister to the hearts of the women who can’t get past the grief and sorrow of their own life.
She will look past circumstances and situations and appearances that look different than her own to see daughters of the living God who have yet to discover their worth.
The new church lady is looking for opportunities to be a blessing- instead of looking for her own opportunities.
The new church lady knows that the only way up is down. She knows that “humility isn’t thinking less of yourself but it is thinking of yourself less.”
Graciousness is her hallmark.
Gratitude is her beauty treatment.
She is a woman of her word.
She is a worshipper. In spirit and in truth.
She is a prayer warrior and holds trust from others as sacred.
She is supportive of others and is not an opportunist.
She understands that to become the Proverbs 31 woman- you can’t skip chapters 1-30.
She is fully aware of her own shortcomings and seeks Him daily for His love and guidance.
She recognizes hopelessness and worthlessness in others and speaks life.
She is an excellent listener. She listens with her head and her heart. She hears what is not being said.
She is a lifter. An encourager. A hope giver.
She forgives- fully.
She knows that the same grace that was made available to her- is also available to everyone else.
She does not gossip. She does not constantly brag or boast. She speaks blessing.
She sees the best. Believes the best. Hopes the best.
She places a high value on God’s people.
She invests in the greatest investment in the world.
His people.
She is known for what she stands for.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial and sincere. ~ James 3:17
Dear Heavenly Father, Help me be like you in everything I do. I am your daughter, Father. Please help me represent you as you are, not as I am. Make me translucent, so you shine brightly through me to show the world your love, kindness, and compassion. I ask this in Jesus nsme, Amen.
bible.com/bible/116/exo.14.14.NLT
“The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.””
Exodus 14:14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/exo.14.14.NLT
“Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea. But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!””
Exodus 14:21-25 NLT
bible.com/bible/116/2co.1.6.NLT
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NLT
bible.com/bible/116/1co.16.14.NLT
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT
Are U Up for the Challenge?