GodandMe2theMax

These are my people...

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God' people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.  In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in Him, you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.  Ephesians 2:19-22

 

Have you ever had that niche of people that you when you're with them, you just want to say, "These are my people!"  I have had a few experiences with that kind of feeling.  But the best example I can think of is vicariously through my daughter Amber.  She played volleyball on a competitive team from late elementary school through junior high.  She was one of the starting setters for her junior high 8th grade team, but when the season was over, she said, "Mom, I'm done.  Next year in high school, I'm going to focus on theater and not volleyball."  My heart sank, because I love volleyball, and not only did Amber have some talent, but we had a lot of years of money invested in that talent.  But as I wrestled with her words, I had to validate the fact that she wasn't happy for some reason, and she wanted to do something new.  At the end of her 8th grade year, she auditioned for and made the "Black Box" theater for Wylie High School, and she began her freshman year with that being her new passion, her new focus.

At the end of Amber's freshman year, she told me, "Mom, I'm done with theater.  Next year I'm going to focus on debate."  Now that one was not so easy to swallow.  I didn't know much about "debate."  Actually, I didn't know anything at all about "debate".  What I did know was that Amber had given up after five plus years of volleyball to do theater, and now in my mind, it appeared that she was giving up on theater.  How wrong I was.  My daughter knew herself, and she was searching for "her people."  So with our blessing, Amber began her sophomore year active on the debate team.  It didn't take long for her to realize she finally found what she was yearning for.  I'm so thankful for the coach and the other team members who have embraced her into their little family.  She has a home.  A safe place.  She has found her people.

Through a friend's encouragement, I have been praying through the book of Ephesians, reading and dialoguing in prayer as I read.  As I pray through this book, it's definitely taking me more time than I ever imagined it would.  I can read pretty quickly.  But when I read, and pray back to God what He's showing me, journaling it, well, that takes a lot longer.  Doing this, however, has given me the time I need to really focus on what He is telling me, instead of just reading and "moving on" with my day.

So as I finished up reading Ephesians 2 this morning, I can't help but think of this story of my daughter Amber in parallel to what we have in Jesus, if we have found our peace in Him.  Take a look at Ephesians 2:19-22.  Paul is addressing the fact that Jesus died for both Jews and Gentiles.  There is no difference between the two, and we all have free access to God through what Jesus did on the cross. 

Paul says "we are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens in God's household."  As a small child, I made the decision to give my life to Christ.  I wasn't a drug dealer, I wasn't an alcoholic, and I wasn't a really bad person - I was just a child.  But there was a point in my life when I realized I was a sinner, and my sin separated me from God in heaven. So I asked Jesus to come into my life, forgive me of my sins, and I put my faith and trust in Him and Him alone.  There's nothing I could do to earn his grace; it was only by accepting His free gift, the gift of His Son Jesus dying on the cross to pay for my sins.  Now go back to the verse:  "We are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens in God's household."  Did you catch that?  Because I have asked Jesus to come into my life and forgive me of my sins, because there's been a time in my life when I've asked Him to take control, He says to me and others who have made that same commitment, "THESE ARE MY PEOPLE." 

Yes, I am a member of God's household now.  I have my place.  But just like Amber had to do her part to fit in with her new Debate Family, we do need to do our part as well with God.  No, doing good things do not save us, but our lives should match God's expectations, and that is where we fall short so many times.  I mean, if Amber had joined the debate team and then never actually went to a tournament, if she never prepared a case to debate, if she didn't do her part of being on the team, do you think that would go over too well?  I don't think so.  Not with the coach, her partner, or her fellow team members.  Then why is it that we don't take the same approach with being on God's team?  That is where I fall short too often.  Look at verse 22  "In Him, you too are being built together..."  I love the fact that it says "are being built."  That means that it's a process that takes place and there's still hope for me! 

As I prayed through the end of chapter two today, I stopped at that last verse "to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit."  Is my life being lived in a manner that God is comfortable enough to dwell there?  When we have company coming over, we clean, clean, clean.  Why?  I don't know about you, but I clean so I won't be embarrassed by the dirt in my house.  I want my guest to be comfortable, and truly, I just want to have an enjoyable time of fellowship.  So as I read this verse, God just reminded me that just like I clean my physical home, I need to constantly also be doing spiritual cleaning so God's Holy Spirit is comfortable in my dwelling place.  He longs to have an enjoyable time of fellowship with me, but if I've not been confessing sin and seeking His will, there are going to be a lot of dust bunnies built up that would make open conversation with Him perhaps a bit awkward, if not even the elephant in the room. 

He is my Chief Cornerstone, and each one of us as Christians should be working together to accomplish His will so we can be identified as HIS PEOPLE.  Is that not the highest compliment God Almighty can give?  To say, "YOU...are mine.  YOU are my people."  To say to the body of believers, "These are my people."

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

 

 

A Snake in My Garden...

"God chose me before the foundations of the world..."  Ephesians 1:4

 

Inadequate.  Have you ever felt that way?  If you’re a girl,more than likely you have.  Such feelings tend to hit girls more than guys, and it’s something I grew up believing to be truth about myself.  Not because my parents didn’t love me, believe in me, and give me every opportunity to have those feelings of positive self-worth. No, not at all.  In fact, my dad was my biggest fan.  I can remember hearing him always brag on me to my relatives about “this or that” all the time.  But there were other events in my life that affected me so negatively that despite my parents best efforts, I grew up not believing in myself.  It wasn’t even a battle that I struggled with – it was truth I believed. 

Looking back, it was as if I was invisible.  I went through the motions of life, but no one recognized "the real me” inside.  In fact, out of my graduating class of 12 (yes, it was a small Christian school!)  I was the only person not listed in the yearbook as “Most likely to…”  In truth, I at least thought I would make it as the “Class Clown” – quick wit has always been one of my assets, thanks to my dad.  But no, several people were named to several categories, but when it was all said and done, I was the only one not named to anything.  I was invisible, and I believed I was in inadequate.  Some may have pegged me as such; others never pegged me at all.

Then I met my husband. When we started dating, he spoke truth into my life.  He told me all the reasons I was worthy.  He told me all the reasons God says I’m worthy.  He pointed out my successes; ones I had shoved under the rug as a “fluke.” In truth, he taught me to re-program the way I thought about myself.  Most of my friends who have known me only as an adult would never believe how I used to struggle with self-worth.

Over the last few weeks, some things have happened that have brought my emotional state of mind right back to where I was before meeting my husband.  I’ve had some situations with friends that have left me feeling crushed, stepped-on, worthless, inadequate, and even invisible.  When we are at our weakest, that’s when the enemy attacks, and that’s exactly what he a few weeks ago - with a vengeance.  The first part of that week was especially bad, as I played and replayed in my head the situations that had occurred.  I questioned friendships.  I questioned motives.  I questioned me.  I questioned God.  My heart hurt.

On one hand, I knew the truth – what God says about me.  But I somehow couldn’t connect the truth in my mind with my emotions and the pain I was feeling in my heart.  I spent about a week of my quiet time just praying, trying to refresh in the Lord. I’ve been reading a book called “Captivating” by John & Stasi Eldredge – it’s the female version of “Wild at Heart.”   I highly recommend it, but actually, it only exacerbated some of those feelings that had surfaced.  I’m usually a quick reader, but some of the things in this book hit nerves that ran so deep that I literally could only absorb a few pages at a time.  God has really convicted me that if unhealthy thoughts are present, they need to be dealt with and turned over to Him.

The other thing God is showing me is that I need to be more transparent.  Sometimes we put on our "happy face” and don’t let others see the pain inside.  On the flip side, sometimes we’re so busy in our own world that we don’t stop to take time to care about the people around us.  I wonder how many of my friends feel invisible and inadequate…and I’ve never even taken the time to notice.  I wonder how many people I consider “friends” don’t even consider me the same because I don’t show it in my actions, because I don’t notice or take time to care about them. 

Jesus says in John 8:32 says “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Contextually, the verse is speaking about salvation. But I have been claiming this verse in relation to unhealthy thoughts and feelings, too.

Think of it this way. About 4 years ago, I went for my annual physical.  I had been losing weight, and at the time of the appointment, I weighed less than the year before.  I was proud of myself, and I wasn’t expecting my doctor’s next words.  “If you don’t lose weight, it’s not a matter of if you’re going to have a heart attack, it’s a matter of when.” 

Do you know what that did to me emotionally?  I went to the van, and I literally cried myself into a tailspin.  I gave up on losing weight and figured it wasn’t worth it if that was the response I received from my doctor.  Eventually, I gained back almost everything I had lost.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  The BIble also says in Isaiah 1 "Come let us reason together."  As I reflect on that incident with my doctor, now I can think clearly without the emotional impact of the situation; I can reason out the truth.  The truth was that there is no heart disease anywhere in my family.  The truth was that my blood pressure has always been very low, probably averaging 105 over 70.  The truth was that my cholesterol was only slightly elevated.  My weight, well, ok, I’ll give her that one as truth – I was overweight.  But do you think it was truth that a heart attack was eminent?  I don’t think so….at least not yet, anyway.

It’s the same thing with the unhealthy emotions I have been dealing with.  I have to use the reasoning side of my brain and separate emotion from fact.  By God’s grace, I know the truth, I have claimed it once again, and the truth has set me free. The devil may try to convince me otherwise down the road, but for now, I’m claiming victory.

I know there are other friends who are struggling with self-worth, and hopefully by my transparency, God can encourage you.  Too often we put a mask on and just let others see the smiles.  One of my
favorite verses is in Proverbs 27:17  “Iron sharpens iron.”  Friends, let’s sharpen each other, but in order to do so, we have to let others know the real “you” inside. 

Look for those people in your life that may feel invisible.  Sometimes they can hide it really well.  Take time to dig a little deeper into their lives instead of staying on the surface.  Make time for them.  You have no idea how God can use you to make a difference.

 

There’s a snake in my garden
That slithers near me again
To rouse pain deep within
Wounds suppressed years before.  Forgotten.

And it’s speaking so softly,
“You’ll never be worthy.” 
Those words, how they haunt me.
“You’re nothing and you always will be.”

Then the whispers get louder
It hisses, and  I cower.
Immobile.  No power.
To refute this rattle in my ear.

At a crisis of belief
Lies crafted to deceive
Pierce through and steal my peace.
As venom taints this fragile bloodstream.

Then I read in God’s love note
While searching for the antidote
He chose me – that’s truth you know
And the snake, he just seeks to devour.

Prince of deceit, no one can tame.
With spewing lies and careful aim.
He attacks with darts of shame.
But my Shield – He will win in the end.

There’s a snake in my garden
That slithers near me again
To rouse pain deep within
Wounds suppressed years before. Forgotten.

 

--- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com