1 Corinthians 2 - Wisdom

So, I'm doing a reading plan through Corinthians with 2 of my girls and we just started, so today is 1 Corinthians 1 & 2. I forgot how much I love Paul's writing; he's so raw, it's amazing. 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5 hit me because lately I've been feeling so dumb. Seriously. I feel like any intelligence I once had has been drained out of my being and I had no idea why... until now.

1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power.

I have been seeking after intelligence and not wisdom. God gives intelligence to people, but if I'm not seeking after His WISDOM first, why would He bless me with intelligence? All the worldly intelligence available is nothing without Godly wisdom. I have to count it ALL AS LOSS before I can appreciate what I haven been given and glorify Him with my mind, body and spirit. I can't let MYSELF get in the way of the Gospel, and I believe that is something I've been guilty of lately. Anyway, just a random thought... something I know I need to work on, thank God for the Word of God.

Takin' it BACK!

I wrote this blog originally over three years ago... but it's still one of my favorites, so I thought I'd bring it back...

I'm blogging about a word I hate... but it means so much! The word is reconcile. I hate it because churchy people tend to throw it around too much and misuse the true meaning. However, I like it in the way that I just read about it in this book called The Shack by William P. Young. In this book God (Papa) is explaining reconciliation to a man (Mack). In it He says, "Honey, you asked me what Jesus accomplished on the cross; so now listen to me carefully: through His death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world."
"The whole world? You mean those who believe in You, right?" (Mack)
"The whole world, Mack. All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship but it is the nature of love to open the way."

Now, I realize that these are not quotes from the Bible. However, I believe in the truth behind them. I'm not one to believe that God only loves those who love Him back, so this concept truly struck me as amazing. Pretty great to serve this God.

WHOA!!!

It's been over a year since I wrote a blog... time flies right? In the past year it seems like everything and nothing has changed all at the same time. It would be the world's longest blog if I tried to put it all into words, so I'll just sum it up like this: God has been faithful, as He said He would be. That might sound cliche, but it's true and He deserves all the glory. I can honestly say that this has been a year of joy, a year of pain and a year of learning. Every day is a struggle; it is times like these that remind me of a song (yes I know, I think in songs, bear with me!) called "The Desert Song" by Hillsong United. One of the lyrics says:

This is my prayer in the battle

When triumph is still on its way

I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ

So firm on His promise I'll stand

It's like sometimes I forget that I'm in a battle that Christ has already won. I forget that for as many down days as I have, Christ will lift me up. It's not over. Sometimes I get so weary in battle, I forget why I fight, I forget my purpose. But Christ never forgets me, even when I feel like He does. Maybe I'm just babbling, but I hope this encourages you too because Christ remembers you every day of your life.