Wednesday, October 26, 2011

All things new

Sometimes life is painful, sometimes it's ugly, sometimes it's beautiful, and sometimes the painful produces beauty.

I recently felt God wanted me to share a piece of my struggles with a group of Jesus loving women. I didn't feel it was received well. It seemed like people looked at me like I was crazy. I felt vulnerable and exposed and I want to pull back and close up. Jesus doesn't want me to do that though. He asks us to be real, to be transparent to God's working and my need for Him. To tell of His blessings amidst struggle, the way He carries me and bears my burdens for and with me. I'm choosing to let it go and know that God was misunderstood and yet He responded with love. I find freedom in submitting to what His desires are. I know He has a purpose and a plan for my life; one of hope and redemption.

For this reason, I believe and I trust that He will continue to bless and heal me. He uses it all right. even when we don't do things just right? He accepts where I am at, and He continues to make me transparent and real so that He can bless me and change me.

He takes our weaknesses, our struggles, our human ways, and makes us righteous in Him. Grace poured out, blood shed for our sins, our pain, our brokenness and He makes it beautiful. He forgives, He comforts, He makes beauty from life's ashes.

He makes all things beautiful, in it's time. Ecc. 3:11

In the giving up, the giving in to Him, we allow Him to clean out, to throw away the old and make new. In the giving up of self we allow the coming in of Jesus in our hearts. Sin forgiven, set free for new life.

He makes all things new.

He takes the old mangled tainted parts of our soul and He exchanges them. He clothes us with loving kindness. The kind of love that wraps us up and removes the shame, the disappointment, the confusion of self and this harsh world. Those old dirty rags, they don't exist anymore to Him.

Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a *new* heart and put a *new* spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

His Spirit giving His fruit, love, joy, peace, patience, loving kindness, mercy grace.....

He makes all things new.

Why we pick back up the old and set aside the new, it doesn't make sense. That breaking away from the covering of God's grace; giving in to the world's idea that we can do things on our own. That's where the clothes get torn, they wear out and our sin shows right through.

Once again He comes and offers His cleansing, His grace, His righteousness, that unending faithful love that makes all things new again. He washes the stains of sin. He has this pure heart that never stops forgiving, never stops seeking His beloved children.

Casting our sin, our shame at the foot of His cross; He gives us grace with just a touch of His hand. He takes our sin and gives His forgiveness, His redemption.

He makes all things new.

All the time, continually, He never takes His hand off of us, just like a potter keeps his hand on the wheel, shaping, changing, not wasting a thing, God is lovingly shaping us in His hands to become all things beautiful. He mixes the pain in with the good, and He makes us new.

Isaiah 42:9
Behold, the former things have come to pass, And *new* things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Rev. 21:5
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous26/10/11

    Just wanted you to know I appreciate your vulnerability. I can see the beauty of Jesus through that. I don't think you are crazy at all! I have struggled with depression in the past so I know what despair & feeling like God left me felt like. Be encouraged my friend. I can tell God is doing an awesome work in your heart. Jesus loves you.
    Cheryl Sadler

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  2. Anonymous27/10/11

    This is beautiful, Becky. Transparency is from the Heart of the Father. Those who DARE to do what He says to do will be rewarded, if not here, then when you go Home. Dear one, if you could only see what awaits you when you go through the Gates of Heaven when your time is finished on this earth...His arms are open wide, awaiting your arrival on the Great Day when the time comes. In the mean time, please attempt to what you're doing now, just following those nail-scarred feet wherever they lead you. You'll never regret it.
    As your older brother in Jesus, I want you to know I am very proud of you. Just keep on keepin' on, dear sister in Christ.
    In the love of our Beloved,
    Your brother,
    Jim Grayson

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  3. Thank you so much Cheryl. To God be the glory, great things He has done. I appreciate your encouragement. You blessed me.

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  4. Thank you to you too Jim. I didn't realize I didn't put your name, I meant to. I am continuely blessed by your writings. You may be home bound but God has an encredible ministry through you. love to you as a sister in Christ.

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  5. Marion28/10/11

    I appreciate your heart too, Becky. I believe that a transparent life is the way to keep the devil from having any victory. He wants us to keep hidden and shameful. Thank you for making yourself vulnerable. It lets us all know how to be praying for you.

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  6. Thank you Marion, I appreciate your words and I agree, satan loves to keep our hearts hidden. The more I pray about being secure in Jesus and just being obedient, the more I realize how much pride I have. And how judgmental I was assuming that people must look down on me. Oh how we all need His grace. Hugs! I'm enjoying getting to know you.

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