Blogs really provide me fodder for my own blog. Something I read each morning in my goodle feeder will instinctively prompt me to write something. Here we go for today’s:
I read a blog called Makeunder My Life by a Chicago girl named Jess. I really enjoy her design tips, views on living on purpose and with intention, and her blog design. She recently broke up with her boyfriend and posted on that yesterday. The hurt and pain was real in her post as she shared with her readers a part of her life that had ended. I’m thankful for honesty. Today, was a follow-up to that post with her sharing how she is able to forge ahead in life and with her business in spite of this relationship ending. I post this in saying nothing about Jess personally – because I do not know her. I only know her relationship with God via this post. And I only know that there are probably many more in your sphere of influence and friendship circle and community at church that also blend spirituality to make their own religion.

After re-reading yesterday’s post, I realized that it might appear as if I’ve glided through the last eight months on a cloud of understanding and ease; maintaining a sense of well-being and big picture perspective every step of the way. But in fact, the opposite was often true. I struggled with this. A lot. Privately. I never expected this to happen. And though the pain and hurt was overwhelming at times, I characteristically did (eventually) start asking myself, what am I meant to learn from all of this?

So basically what I am trying to say is that I’ve felt the whole range of possible emotions about this mutual decision – just like everyone would. But what is deeper than all of my pain was the faith that has served me in growing Jess LC and MML: I deeply believe that everything serves a purpose in my life. And over time, I started to seek out wisdom and grow as much as possible in this situation. And boy, did I have a lot to learn! Take a look.
Though I tip-toe around the idea of God here on MML, I cannot honestly explain what I’ve learned from this experience without touching on this subject. I think each person has their own evolving view on God which is entirely personal. My understanding of God is primarily spiritual, and I expose myself to teachings from a variety of sources including college courses and books on Confucianism and Buddhism, Anthony DeMello’s teachings, A Course In Miracles, Joyce Meyer, my Catholic childhood, and the local Lutheran church I go to on Sundays. I find that the universal truths inherit in all of these teachings create a broad base for my personal beliefs. Throughout these past eight months, I’ve exposed myself to some form of spiritual teaching everyday – whether it be in the form of a book, podcast, or tv show. This habit helped me to keep a bigger picture perspective even on the toughest of days.
I also began to pray. Though I have always been very philosophical about spirituality, my prayers have now become very active – I need help in each moment to remember the greater purpose this is serving in my life. And though it’s not always easy, prayer has helped me realize that I don’t need to have all the answers. But I can have faith that things are working out in my favor and that God is going to make this happen for the best. I’ve learned to give God control of my life and learn to follow his lead.

Universalism is anti-God. How do I make such a strong statement? God, Yahweh, I AM, the one Sovereign Creator of the entire universe, the Trinity, 3-in-1 (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) can’t be confused with the teachings of Buddha, or Taoism, or any other religion. It can’t even be confused with a religion that emphasises works for one’s salvation.
God says:
1. I am the one true God (Deut 6.4-9)
2. I am the only God and I will not give my glory to another (Isaiah 43 and 48)
3. I am the way, the truth, and the Life. (Jesus in the gospels).
4. I am the one who can destroy in hell (Matthew 10.28)
5. I am the one to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess (Phil 2)
6. I am the one whom the angels sing to: holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty (Rev 4 and Is 6)
7. I am the one who died on a cross to reconcile man to God and offer grace (Eph 2)

So…how did I deal with hurt and pain and disappointment yesterday? I preached the gospel to myself. I am so glad that I don’t have to rely on my good works, my perfect (ha) relationships, or the teachings of Joyce Meyer or the Koran to help me get through life. I am glad I have the One who will never leave me nor forsake me (Heb 13) and the one who calls me to Abide in His perfect grace and love and mercy. Nothing I bring to the table is worthy (Is 64). God is gracious and in Him alone I rest. All others will let me down. All others will fail me. I will fail them. I am a sinner – but I have Jesus. And in that, I rest. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Granola is a good thing. It is so much cheaper to make it yourself and you can make it to your specifications. I haven’t made my own in a while ut I got in a granola mood – and it is a perfect little gift to give as thank you or just because gifts. And giving is a wonderful thing. I hope this blesses people this week.

2 cups oats
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp salt
3 T canola oil
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup orange blossom honey (love orange and cranberry together)
1 tsp vanilla
heaping 1/3 cup of whole raw almonds
heaping 1/3 cup of chopped raw walnuts
2/3 cup craisins

Mix first three. Combine wet and pour over. Mix. 325 sprayed pan. Spread out – 10 minutes baking. Stir. Add almonds. 10 minutes. Stir. Add walnuts. 5 minutes. Add craisins and stir. Enjoy.

Like with any granola – about the only thing you can do wrong to it is burn it. Not a good thing. But, if you don’t burn it (please don’t, oats and cranberries and orange blossom honey and raw nuts are too good to waste) – its delicious.

Before you say anything – the Gospel is our adornment. The lovely grace of God on our lives.
This is an outward working of that adornment.
Sometimes I think I get this – most often, I don’t have it. I struggle, I wish this reflected me. This is how I press into the gospel though – right? I’ll never be completely what I should be in this area – I can strive with grace (working out your faith with fear and trembling) – and pray for the return of Jesus. Complete sanctification. Will be a good thing. More importantly – Jesus.
This is from the Crossway Blog today:

The world tells women that happiness and success lie in white teeth, in muscle tone and trendy clothes. And today the women who have these physical assets are held out as role models for women and girls.

We find a very different sort of role model in Proverbs 31. From her example we discover how we, uniquely as women, have been made in God’s image. In other words, another way to be pure is to live so that others around us see the goodness of God through our femininity. How does this biblical role model in Proverbs demonstrate this?

If you read through verses 10 to 31, one of the first things you’ll discover is her priorities. She was focused on caring for her family, honoring her husband, helping the needy, and exercising her God-given talents. What we don’t find is a preoccupation with personal comfort, fleshly pleasures, and outward appearance. We also see her strength. She was strong in mind, body, and character. She took initiative to get things done but not in a spirit of self-serving independence. The most important thing we discover is that she feared the Lord, which we are meant to understand as the undergirding of every other good quality she possessed.

A woman like this is a beautiful picture of biblical femininity, and it glorifies God. Are we seeking to be like her? The answer depends on those we choose as role models. Of course we can’t actually become this ideal woman any more than we can become the air-brushed celebrities we see on magazine covers, because she isn’t real.

We can, however, become our own unique version of her—a woman who exults in being feminine to the glory of God—in our personal set of circumstances and in our calling. Radiating biblical femininity in all we do and think and say radiates purity.

Excpert modified from Purity: A Godly Woman’s Adornment. Join Lydia Brownback for Tuesday Talk as she chats through different topics on purity and godly womanhood.

This morning I was able to teach 3rd graders the reason we were created (to praise God, Psalm 139.14). There are many other verses in Scripture that tell us that this is why we were created.
I’ve also been pondering hurt, pain, and the reality of sin today. It has also been a topic of conversation over the past few weeks with a dear friend.
Why will we never understand pain? Why will we never understand death?
Here is my answer: we weren’t created for it.
Setting: Garden of Eden.
Personality: Sinless Adam and Eve. Walking and talking, praising God, animals named, life going along just great.
Enter: Serpent. Apple (or some thing Eve ate). Lies. Mistrust.
Stupid Apple.
Yes, I know it wasn’t the apple’s fault.
God in his all-knowingness knew this was going to happen when He created. (Because of His eternal nature, He already knew Jesus was going to have to come die as well).
So…why doesn’t death and pain and hurt and disappointment and mistrust and ________ make sense to us. I don’t think we were designed for it. We were created (originally, before sin) for a life of relationship with our Creator. We failed. Enter sin and death.
So, when pain and hurt and disappointment come you can do a couple of things:
1. Learn from it.
2. Shut it out (close off your heart and emotions).
3. Trust God with it.
4. ___________

What do you do with hurt and death? Is it easy or hard for you to see and acknowledge God’s working in it. For me – it depends on the situation. I’m usually one of the first people to say something about God and theology and He is in control, etc. Sometimes, I’m not.
Praising Jesus for the work of the gospel in my heart today. And not loving the pain.

Was introduced to this video compilation yesterday and didn’t know it would be as powerful to me today as when I heard about it yesterday.
I remember seeing Johnny’s biography in our house growin up – never read it. Still haven’t (must remedy soon). But, ever since I watched Walk the Line, I’ve become curious about all things Johnny. Why? There is a marked detail of grace on that man’s life. Mercy has been poured rich on him.
In this video, a song by Nine Inch Nails, he talks about pain, fleeting rewards of this life, and how it all goes to nothing – dust.
I love the book of Ecclesiastes. Today is a good to be reminded. Pain, hurt, the gospel, letting people down; making mistakes, the joy of life – all of it. All of it fleeting compared to the grace of the gospel. how my perspectives get so out of whack sometime. May I always be reminded that nothing else matters in life. How did Johnny’s life look different? How will mine look different if I lived by that truth?
Ecclesiastes 1.13-18 (Some say this book in the Bible is depressing, I call it reality and gripping.)
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.