Thursday, August 25, 2016

Hosea 3{Seeking a sinner}

Hosea 3

I like that the Lord said to "go show your love to your wife again."  He didn't say "love your wife again."  Maybe it's because he didn't ever stop loving her even through all the ways she sinned against him.  Just like God never stops loving us even though we sin and sometimes continue to sin.

And Hosea went and got her.  She didn't come crawling back in repentance.  He went to her.  Sometimes I can feel God.  Right there with me.  Just waiting for me to turn to him.  And Hosea bought her back.  His own property!  Can you imagine someone taking something of yours and then you buying it back?!  That's crazy!  It shows just how much God loves us because he bought us with his son's life.  So much sacrifice!

In verse 1 it says "love her as the Lord loves the Israelites."  I think that shows that sometimes, when we are the ones needing to forgive, we will need God's help.  Because we are SO human and sometimes things hurt so bad.

I pray that if there is someone seeking forgiveness from you that you will love them as the Lord loves us.  I know when I go "trembling to the Lord" that is the love I hope to find.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

How are you doing? (insert concerned look)

Today has been a weird day.  I'm not sure how to feel about it.  Should I be embarrassed because I'm bawling my eyes out or should I feel guilty because I'm not?  My baby started kindergarten today and I have no idea how I'm doing.  Everyone keeps asking me that.  I truly don't know.  He's ready and I suppose I'm ready.  It's a new season in his life and mine. One that I look forward to, but it's hard to not look back on this day.  To the last 5 years of taking care of him.  Feeding him, changing him, playing with him.  Did I use the time wisely?  Did I hold him enough?  Did I hold him too much?  Did I teach him the right things?  So many questions that could tear me to pieces.  Today I'm choosing not to think about those.  To only look forward.  There's so much joy in watching your kids learn new things at school.  In the next few years he will grow so much.  We will have Thanksgiving break and Christmas break and I look forward to the amazing summers we will have together.  I'll get to pick him up from school and hear about the super awesome things he got to do that day.  And it will be great!  This song popped up in my memories from Facebook.



 It has a whole different meaning today than it did 5 years ago when I posted it, but I choose to still embrace it and allow God to use me in whatever he calls me to do today. Anticipating all the ways God will use me and Devin in this new stage.


Hosea 2 {Turning away}

Hosea 2

The first part of this chapter laid out a template of a person turning away from God.  They have veered off his path and hopped onto one that they think is better.  It's definitely self-serving and provides short term pleasure, like the linens and oils that the woman in Hosea takes pleasure from and credits to her lovers.  Even though God can take that all away.  And he does in order to draw us closer to him because sometimes most of the time, that's the only way.  The only way we see that those short term pleasures are fleeting and he is truly better.

I'm sure we can all read those verses and think of someone to point a finger at or call out, but don't we all turn from God from time to time or maybe it's just that we keep certain areas of our life from him or that we take credit for things that God has given us or done for us.  Those are all things that separate us from him.

Verse 13 reminds me that there are always consequences for our sin.  Even though he forgives me when I come to him, in this world it will never be as though it didn't happen.  But then the drawing closer starts in verse 14.  He speaks tenderly even though we deserve harsh words.  He knows our hearts can be delicate especially during those hard times, so he doesn't barge in with heavy demands.  He gently calls to us and shows us his great mercy and grace.

I can almost see and hear the joy in verse 15.  The redemption and delight that follows.  "There she will sing as in the days of her youth."  I want to sing like that.  Not a deep heavy song, but a lighthearted, cheerful one.  I have and I do sing like that, but I want it to be that way all the time.  Every moment of every day rejoicing in God's amazing love for me.

That's my prayer for today.  That we all take time today to truly understand God's grace for us and then shout a cheerful song of praise.  Whether it's on your way home from work or as you clean the bathrooms, again (how does it get so dirty so fast!) or as you drive to pick your kindergartner up from his first day at school, like me.  So fair warning to everyone in the pickup line.  You might want to bring your earplugs. ;)  Here's the song I'll be jamming to.


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Hosea {When God calls us to do hard things}

I am starting to read through Hosea.  It's super painful and hard to read, but that's the book God sent to me through a friend, so that's what I'm reading.  I want to blog about my thoughts as I read.  They are very raw and not at all put together thoughts, so no judging.  I would love to hear any of your thoughts on Hosea as well.  I'm praying that God speaks to me through this (actually I know he will because he wouldn't give me this book and not speak to me) and I know he can use you to speak to me too.

Hosea 1Thoughts

I am not a prophet or a teacher, but God calls me and everyone to live in a way that speaks to others.  My life can be a ministry in that way.  That does not mean that I should hold myself to an impossible standard and tell everyone how I have followed XYZ commandment.  It means revealing my brokenness and need for grace to everyone so that they can see my Mighty God at work.  God asked Hosea to marry a prostitute which seems hard enough, but he also asked him to keep forgiving her for her adultery.  I can't imagine how painful that journey was but it allowed Hosea to show God's people, in a way they could actually see, how God's grace works and that it's there waiting for them if they just turn to him and accept it.

I am broken and in need of God's grace in more ways than you can even imagine.  God, give me the strength to reveal my brokenness to others, so that they too can see how amazing your grace really is.  And give me the strength to give that same grace that you have given me to anyone in my life that needs it right now.  Amen.