Grace Full Mama

Be Who You Are {Because He Loves Me Week 7}

Joy — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 03:42:42 +0000

This week we are working through Chapter 7 of Because He Loves Me. Thank you for grace as I struggled through long power outages last week. We are still in the midst of them, but God is good!

So let’s begin…..

In the chapters up till now, we’ve been reading about the wonderful truths found in the gospel, and how they can transform our thinking, hearts, and our identity. As Elyse says at the beginning of this chapter, “We’re going to be shifting from looking primarily a how God’s love transforms us at the level of our identity to how it transforms our daily life.”

She goes on to say, “please remember that your growth in holiness is firmly bound to your appreciation of the gospel and God’s love, for it is only an appreciation of his love that can motivate genuine obedience.”

The theme of this chapter is, “Be who you are.” What does that mean? It brings to us the “beautiful balance between the indicative (who you are in Christ) and the imperative (who you’re becoming in Christ).” Meaning, what God through Christ has already proclaimed you to be, married with how you are being transformed in the things God in Christ has called you to become.

It is a “…beautiful synergy that not only tells us what to do, but also plants within our souls the only motive that will empower God-pleasing compliance: what God has already done. We’ve already been forgiven in Christ.”

Essentially, we learn how to mesh what we are in Christ with the expectations for holy living he has for us. Elsye says is this way, “The wonderful pronouncements God has made about us cannot and must not be disconnected from the wonderful expectations he has of us. In other words, gospel-declaration must not be severed from gospel-obligation.”

It is through the lens of grace and only through the lens of grace that we can and should pursue holiness and the good works that is mentioned in Titus 2:12-14

“The grace of God trains us to renounce ungodliness, live temperate, godly lives, and be zealous for good works. Yes, God rules sovereignly, and in the life of his beloved ones he rules with sovereign grace, mercy, and love. But we mustn’t assume that his grace trumps the expectation that we should be holy, for he is holy and his Holy Spirit indwells us. Yes, God is sovereign over our sanctification, but recognition of that truth doesn’t excuse us from zealously pursuing it.” see Phil 2:12-13

I learned a lot from this chapter, and as I continue to study through this book, my thinking and heart is being continually transformed.

How about you? What are you learning?

What were you challenged by in the chapter this week? How do you find your heart and mind being transformed by God’s Word?

You are welcome to join the conversation by leaving your thoughts in the comments, or if you are a blogger, you can link up a blog post below.

Join us next week at Grace Laced as Ruth takes us through Chapter 8!

Click here to get your free ebook! Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood

Because He Loves Me {week 6}

Joy — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:08:45 +0000

I am popping in quick today to let you know that my post won’t be going up for this week. We are in the midst of daily {long} power outages, and I am not going to be able to get a post up!

Thank you for grace!
If you want to link up YOUR post below, please do! Join us next week at GraceLaced.

Click here to get your free ebook! Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood

Because He Loves Me Book Study Week 5 {at GraceLaced!}

Joy — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:03:59 +0000

This week we are reading and discussing Chapter 5 of Because He Loves Me. Is it changing your heart and your thinking? It certainly is for me! Join Ruth at GraceLaced today as she shares her thoughts from this chapter!

Also, we would love to have you join the conversation! If you are a blogger, write a blog post with your thoughts and link up here or at GraceLaced. If not, feel free to join in the comments over at GraceLaced.

Live in the light of your true inheritance today, friends!

Click here to get your free ebook! Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood

The Verdict {Because He Loves Me Book Study Week 4}

Joy — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:48:04 +0000

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

We are on Chapter 4 in our book study of Because He Loves Me here and at GraceLaced. Are you loving it as much as I am? It’s not too late to join us! Buy your book here.

I woke up this morning and the electricity was already off. It never came back on all day, and so, sadly, the never-plan-ahead-Joy is without a post and has a house full of hungry people. I am dripping with sweat, and only have a moment, but I want to say a few words about this, my favorite chapter of this book.

When I first read this book last year, this chapter is the one that finally allowed it all to sink in. It was my AHA moment.

I knew it all in my head. Very well. But it had yet to sink way down into my heart, and fill and flood it. That’s what this chapter did. It took the gospel and sunk it down deep to my toes.

These two quotes were what spoke to my heart:

“He bore God’s wrath for every time when we knew we shouldn’t speak the way we were about to speak, but did it anyway. He received the righteous sentence for every unkind, lustful, selfish, wrathful, covetous, apathetic, vain, proud, dishonest, perverse thought, word, and deed that has ever proceeded from our hearts. The Father poured out all his wrath on His Son.” pg.70

Several of those adjectives describe me. That is what His blood paid for. My ugly, ugly sin.

And this quote makes me want to whoop and holler:

“Jesus’ perfect record has become ours. Because God has accredited or imputed Jesus’ perfect obedience to you, when God looks upon you, he sees you as a person who

always does the things that are pleasing to him;
is so focused on accomplishing his will and work that doing so is your daily food;
doesn’t seek your own will but seeks his will instead;
doesn’t seek to receive glory (praise, respect, worship) from others;
has always kept all his commandments;
lives in such a way that your life brings holiness to others;
loves others and lays down your life on a consistent basis;
lives in such a way that the people around you know that you love your heavenly Father more than anything else;
seeks to obey every command so that righteousness will be fulfilled.

In God’s opinion (the only one that matters!) that’s your record today.” pg.73

I find that totally astounding, don’t you?

“The only way to silence my heart and find solace is to continually remind myself of my new identity in Christ and to be satisfied with that alone. If I try to be satisfied in my own accomplishments or identity, I’ll never know the comfort he promised.” pg.75

Scriptures that speak to me through this chapter are: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19,21, 1 Peter 3:18,Romans 8:3,4.

I pray this week that you and I would be blessed, be astounded, be overwhelmed by our verdict this week. The one that should say guilty, but instead says, innocent.

How about you? What are you learning? Please feel free to comment below or link up a post if you are a blogger. Next week we will study chapter 5 with Ruth at Grace Laced!

Click here to get your free ebook! Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood

Identity {Because He Loves Me Book Study Week 3}

Joy — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:47:38 +0000

We are reading Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick. Want to join? It’s not too late to read along. If you haven’t purchased a copy of the book, you can do so here.

Ruth at GraceLaced is sharing her thoughts on Chapter 3. So, join here over there, and join the conversation! Also, if you have a blog, feel free to write a post and link it here or over at Ruth’s!

Click here to get your free ebook! Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood

Have You Forgotten Your Identity? {Because He Loves Me Book Study Week 2}

Joy — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:13:02 +0000

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith….For whoever lack these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleanse from his former sins.” 2 Peter 1:5,9

I am a quote girl. I have this entire chapter heavily underlined, and so, instead of me trying to explain, I am just going to share what I am learning through meaningful quotes!

Take some time to really read these quotes and let them sink down deep.

Chapter 2 is called Identity Amnesia. What is that?

“The epidemic is seen is serious Christian book that focus on improving our outer behaviors such as communication skills or self-discipline, or even overcoming sin, without much reference to God’s love for us or his ongoing work in us. It’s seen in the hymns and choruses we sing in which we declare our determination to follow Christ without a mention of his determination to cause us to do so.”

“Even though we believe the gospel, the occasions in which the gospel (the incarnation, sinless life, death, bodily resurrection, and ascension of the Son of God) actually intersect and powerfully affect our daily life are infrequent.”

“We assent to these precious truths about Scripture but we frequently find ourselves living life like practical atheists.”

“How has the gospel defined and shaped you?”

“Most of us view God’s love and the gospel as elementary topics meant to get us in the front door of faith, and they are that. But we’ve forgotten how these truths are also to transform us every moment of every day.”

“This kind of disconnect between our stated beliefs–my identity is that I’m one who’d been loved immeasurably by God and am one with him–and our practical beliefs–my identity and self-worth are determined by whether I’m popular, respected, a winner, and well-fed…”

“[When we understand the gospel] We’ll love God because he has first and marvelously loved us, and this love will overflow to others as well (I John 4:8-9). These gospel truths are not insignificant, something only for beginners. (1 Corinthians 15:1-3) The gospel message–you have been cleansed from sin–is the pinnacle of God’s loving work in the world, and just as it is this work that saves us, it is also this work that transforms and sustains us. The gospel is the message that must remain paramount throughout all our life.”

“‘Who are you?’ with the answer, ‘A child of God!’ but that’s a truth that must be pressed into our consciousness every moment of every day. When dissed by our friends, when we’re struggling with pain, when falling into sin (again!), we’re still his children. And that is the most important thing about who were are. God has graciously chosen, adopted, and sealed us for his own glory. He is giving himself to us, and if we’re not distracted by our self-efforts and self-trust, we will respond by defining ourselves by that love. Who are you? You’re his, he is yours, and you’ve been cleansed from sin. And that’s all the identity any of us need.“

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened….through his flesh….let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” Hebrews 10:19-22

“He has called us, ‘Be Mine.’” If you’re his child, he wants to assure you of his unchangeable love for you and your place in him even now. We can boldly respond to him in the full assurance that he really does love us, that he really has welcome us to himself and made us his own.”

This chapter has given me a lot to think about. I am speechless.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

-What most impacted you in this chapter?

-Have you suffered from Identity Amnesia?

-Are these truths from the gospel impacting your life every day?

How do you join the conversation? Two options:

*Leave a comment below, and feel free to discuss with others there!

*Write a blog post either answering these questions or with your own reactions to the chapter, and link up your blog post below! (Remember to add the title and url for the specific post and not your blog url and name. Thanks!)

(It’s not too late to read along. If you haven’t purchased a copy of the book, you can do so here.)

Join us again next week as Ruth over at GraceLaced discusses Chapter 3!

Click here to get your free ebook! Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood

The Gospel {Because He Loves Me Book Study, Week 1}

Joy — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 08:41:04 +0000

Dear friends, I am so excited to begin this book study with you this week! Today is the day we begin to study the book, Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick. It’s not too late to join us! You can get your book here.

This book will change your life, your perspective, and your heart. Why? Because it is drenched in God’s truth as found in the wonderful gospel. The Gospel really does transform….

I invite you to join the book study today at Grace Laced, where Ruth is hosting. She shares her thoughts and insights on the Intro and Chapter 1, and has invited you to do the same!

We would love to hear your thoughts, so please share with us! You can leave a comment at Grace Laced if you don’t have a blog, or if you have a blog, link up your post at GraceLaced or below.

Sisters, I am so excited to begin this journey with you!

Click here to get your free ebook! Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood

Delighting in God’s Beauty-Refresh Your Soul Week 4

Joy — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:53:50 +0000

I love nature. I am a Northwest girl, who loves a good hike, a picnic outside, or a day trip to the beach. Nothing speaks to my soul as deeply as a beautiful mountain, a sweeping landscape, or an immense ocean that seems endless.

Some people are not. They would prefer the mall to the trail. That’s ok. I love indoor things too. My challenge for us today is to look for beauty and take an extra moment to be thankful for it and to relish it more than we usually would. Where I live, there is some real beauty, but it is interspersed with trash piles and cracking cement. I have had to become a beauty hunter to find and appreciate beauty in my every day. And, guess what? I have found as Ann Voskamp says, “The life that counts blessings discovers its yielding more than it seems.” When I started to hunt for beauty, to see God’s handiwork all around me, I found it everywhere, and in some unlikely places.

But let’s not enjoy beauty simply for beauty’s sake. Let us see the beauty all around us, and use it to point us to God’s glory.

“The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work if His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2

God’s creation is telling us something about HIM!

“What if the Iguazu Falls {one of the wonders of the world} were put there to tell us about the person who put them there? More to the point, what if everything was put here to tell us something about Him?” Steve DeWitt, Eyes Wide Open

But no created thing can satisfy the cravings of our heart. As Augustine says, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

And even more than this, the beauty that we find points us to THE most beautiful One, Jesus Christ.

“The real desirability is found in Christ. God made every created beauty in this world as an expression of Christ’s beauty and the beauty of the Father’s love for the Son. All beauty is a breadcrumb path that leads us to Christ.” -Steve DeWitt, Eyes Wide Open

Have you spent time meditating on Christ’s beauty? The beauty of what was done, finished, completed on the Cross. Can you fathom the love the Father has for the Son, and the love the Father has for us? I can’t. I can’t even fathom it.

Here are some things that have turned my heart to God in praise this week:

an orchid purchased for $12.00
flickering candlelight
delicious coffee in the early morning
the giggle of my son
a butterfly hatching on our banana tree
laughing hard when Hudson does his crazy dance
fruit-lots of it, mangoes, papaya, bananas of all shape, size, and color, rambutan {hairy fruit}, etc
the tired, satisfied smile of a hubby coming home after a long, hard day of serving people in the jungle
fresh baked bread
MAGNUM BAR {I think these are pretty beautiful!}
rubbing backs of boys too old to cuddle, but want to be touched just the same
discussing literature with a friend over a drink at the air-conditioned hotel {bliss!}
the whoops and hollers of boys having a nerf gun fight that overtakes the whole house
blooming roses
the smell of gardenias picked on the side of the road

Frederick Langbridge says it so eloquently in his famous quote,” Two men look out the same prison bars; one sees mud and the other stars.”

Take a few moments today and find the beauty around you. And let it turn your heart in awe to the True Beauty found in Jesus Christ. What beauty have you found this week?

Previous Posts in this series:

Click here to get your free ebook! Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood

Set Your Mind- Refresh Your Soul Week 3

Joy — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:17:26 +0000

The electric skids to a stop, that sinking sound of the life being drained out of light bulbs, washing machine, and water pump. My heart sinks too and I feel the life being drained out of me as well. Again? Really? The third time today.

“Lord, don’t you know I am hot and tired and weary and well, just plain worn out? Don’t you see me? Here I am trying to serve You with my whole heart and it’s stupid little things like dogs yelping non-stop, the fridge not getting cold, the electricity dying again, the dead gecko I almost stepped on in the bathroom, that obscure my view of You. Again and again. And probably again tomorrow. Lord, it is just so hard to refresh when I stink and there is no place to go to find rest for my body or quietness for my mind.”

And this American-born girl pushes back against her “rights” being taken away. Among the things I expect in life are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness . . . but also electricity, running water, noise ordinances, and a place to escape the heat. The growing pains of this selfish heart groan against what I view as “the basics” being taken away from me. I mean, shouldn’t a person have a right to flush the toilet when they want to?

I read Paul’s declaration in Philippians 4:11-12, “for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I knw how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and gong hungry, oth of having abundance and suffering need.” Really, Paul? Because I have got the prosperity part down and to be honest, a little prosperity sounds pretty good right now as I feel the sweat dripping and the dog next door won’t. shut. up.

But to learn how to “get along with humble means”?

To be honest, it wasn’t that hard, the giving up of life and home to follow the Lord overseas. The big sweeping drama of leaving family behind, and traveling into the unknown has excitement and exhilaration attached to it. But the every day, sweating it out? Not so much.

And then I read on, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That was the part I missed. In His strength.

But how do I make that real in the every day moments of wanting to complain and send one more snarky text message to a friend lamenting our woes as we suffer through together? Because complaining can be so much fun!

It hits me between the eyes, as I read Colossians 3: 1-2, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ {which I have}, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth.”

Set your mind. Dwell on Him. Set your mind on the Gospel, the Good News of what Christ has already accomplished on my behalf. Set your mind on things of eternal importance, not on the petty things and silly worries here on earth.

It’s as though He is saying, “I can be your fulfillment, dwelling on me- Your King and Your Savior. Dwell on my beauty, what I have done for you on the Cross, focus your attention on ME, instead of what is dragging you down in this present moment. Seek the things above, the things that really matter, dwell on them, live in them, bask in them. This is TRUE refreshment.”

These three words. Set your mind. It is a choice. When everything is going wrong-the electric is off again, the heat is stifling, the dog next door is making me insane, the kids are bickering-again-THAT is when I need CHOOSE to practice to SET. MY. MIND.

And guess what? It is really refreshing. Resting in Christ who strengthens to help me to continually set my mind. Not easy, but truly soul-refreshing.

With what things do you need to choose to set your mind?

Here are all the previous posts in this series:

Click here to get your free ebook! Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood

What is Your Question About Marriage?

Joy — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 04:17:00 +0000

These are my parents. Aren’t they cute? They have been married for 41 years and have been on the Family Life Weekend to Remember Speaker Team since I was in high school {that’s a looonnng time!}. My dad is a full-time pastor, and they speak for Family Life several weekends a year.

My wonderful mom is joining me here at Grace Full Mama on Mondays in February, and we are going to do a series on marriage together! I am so excited! I don’t promise we will get it all right, but we are working hard to bring you some godly wisdom and encouragement for your marriage!

So, here is my question to you: What is your question about marriage? What is the one question you would like to ask an older woman on the topic of marriage? Or what one topic would you like to hear about? Let us know in the comments!

Don’t forget to subscribe to get your free copy of my ebook, Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood!

Click here to get your free ebook! Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood