#thingsimlearningat23

[gracemadestudio]

the word that changes everything. "say yes to the situations that scare you and stretch you and ask you to be better than you think you can be." #thingsimlearningat23 (at Decatur, Alabama)

[gracemadestudio]

#thingsimlearningat23

[gracevang]

Sometimes we pray for people and expect for God to create breakthrough for them through another resource, whether it be through someone else or through a moment of revelation from God Himself. 

But when God gives you a burden for someone, don’t be surprised when He provides you the opportunity to be the answer to your own prayer. He’ll lead you and allow you to speak truth into their life or to be His hands and feet to comfort them in their time of need. If you’re praying for breakthrough, He might just use you to be the catalyst to let the Spirit move. If Christ dwells in you, don’t be surprised when you are the answer to your own prayer. 

“Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but ethe Spirit gives life.” 1 Cor 3:4-6

[gracevang]

The little things.

This past week I’ve felt so physically and mentally drained. Its the weirdest thing because spiritually I get to bask in his abundance...but with 3-4 hours of sleep for the past few days I could physically feel the fatigue in my body as if it were shutting down. Last night I began to become overwhelmed with schoolwork, upcoming exams, clinicals, and even ministry. I wanted to ask my co-leader to plan the lesson for this week and even thought about skipping life group this week in order to prepare for my exam -- but the Spirit was really convicting me to remain steadfast and trust in the lord as my strength.  Matthew 6:33 & Psalm 27 repeated over and over. So I prayed and asked for my friends to intercede for me. I went to bed earlier than intended knowing I would need rest for the long day ahead of me. Before I went to bed I literally asked God to possibly give me “1 day of recuperation”. 

I woke up and after spending time with Jesus and planning my life group lesson I got ready for the day. Checked my phone and my friend who I was supposed to meet with at 7:30AM said we could reschedule. Checked my email: “Classes have been postponed to start at 11AM”.  Okay, cool -- so I could go to my 12PM class and have a few hours to finish some work. Another email comes in...my last class and research meeting was cancelled.  WHAT?! Jesus literally gave me 1 day as a gift to recuperate. Man. It may be silly for other people to think that Jesus cancelled my classes for me (I mean there are 25 other people in my class right?!)...but he really does care about the little things in my life. I get to rest, study, and spend more time with Him today. It just blows my mind that He gave me today so I could see his faithfulness. He fills the rivers of life to the brink so that I could walk in faith and declare even moreso that HE is mighty, HE is faithful, HE is able and HE is so intimate. Just kind of overwhelmed right now. He cares about the little things. Haha...how awesome is that? Such a good father.

[gracevang]

We are artisans

Exodus 31:1-5 "Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, 5 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship." Yesterday Dr. Miller spoke about how our callings fit into Gods story of redemption in the world. I've read this passage of scripture before but it never hit me as hard as it did last night. The first people who were mentioned to be "filled by the spirit of God" were filled to create and work with their hands for the glory of God. Their work undoubtedly brought others to worship the God of the universe. What does that mean for us? We were called to work and create. To each his own “allotted measure of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9)” God has called us to do “every good work which he has prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10). Whether in classrooms, medical offices, businesses, and homes. We were called to excel in what we did because ultimately God received the glory. It's not what we do (although God does care about that) it's more about he character we are developing. So whatever you do, excel in it. What does that mean for me as an Occupational therapist? I have the privilege to partner with God in bringing restoration and wholeness to people. Whether it be physical or spiritual, God has called me to partner with him to bring healing, unfold true identity, and hope for the hopeless. In this world we will have pain, we will have suffering, we will have disability. But overall we have a God who longs to bring healing and to bring heaven onto earth now. He has called us to wholeness in him...and I get to be a part of that. Dude...mind blowing. So thankful. Grace upon grace upon grace.

[gracevang]

You can only call out the greatness in others when you see the greatness in yourself. What is that greatness? Christ in you and Christ in them.

[gracevang]

Dwelling a lot on Mark 10. Especially verse 25 where Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

With my self-righteousness and religious mindset I keep wanting to do more and to serve Jesus. when in reality Jesus is saying that he is serving me right now in this moment. THIS IS THE GOSPEL. That there is nothing good within me to do anything on my own strength. That I am utterly dependent on him in every moment.

Walking with Jesus does not mean I wake up looking to do more for him. Instead, it is a day by day and moment by moment relying on his strength to serve me – so that I may endeavor in every good work which he has already planned for me to do. The compulsion for me to love others and the desire to love him comes from him alone and not on my own desires.

Jesus loving us compels us to love others. Jesus serving us, is what enables us to serve him.

The doing is secondary to the receiving. We must first learn how to receive in order to respond. Joyful obedience is a response to the love, grace, and mercy of God. That when we deserved death, God gave us life. Then we respond. Not out of guilt, obligation, or for any gain, but in response to the love of a father.

Learning today how to receive & respond. Thankful of his service to me right in this moment – knowing he sets the greatest example for me, lives in me, and enables me to serve and love others.

[gracevang]

“Grace, are you willing to give up your dreams and your desires, walk in faith through pain and suffering, all for something better…for more of me?” 

Learning to surrender my desires, dreams, reputation and expectations of my future in order to be an open vessel for his glory. Repenting for idolizing my ambitions, dreams, passions and gifts; for using him as a platform for my identity instead of finding myself rooted in him. For thinking that anything else in this life could satisfy my heart more than Jesus. Can I give up my expectations of what my life should look like, and even life itself to have more of him? HEART CHECK.  So much easier said than done. 

Still learning how to let go of expectations so that I can gain immeasurably more than all I hope and imagine. I know my finite brain cannot comprehend all that glorious riches in Christ for which God has already planned. I know his love is better than life. I know his ability to use such a small inadequate person like me knows no bounds because then he gets the glory. Its getting from the head to the heart. 

Surrender. Such a hard process – but such a merciful and gracious process. 

Holding onto promises:  Hebrews 11:1 Psalm 16:11  Ephesians 2:20-21