A little piece of my story...
Three little words can have great influence and impact. I mentioned before that I am intrigued by words, but I am also interested in numbers. One, two, three - there's just something about the number 3 that has become appealing to me and anything but random.
The number 3 never stuck out to me as anything noteworthy, until it became noticeably meaningful.
Isn't that true of just about anything you hear about, learn about, study, and store up in your head? It remains stagnant, stale or possibly even superfluous (unnecessary, exceeding what is sufficient, marked by wastefulness), until it becomes something valuable, significant or possibly even sacred, marked by usefulness and understanding - reliable, relevant, relational - as if it springs to life!
This could happen in an instant when something you've heard about, learned about, studied or stored up finally connects and comes together in a meaningful way. Perhaps that instantaneous moment is actually the result of countless non-instantaneous, (seemingly) random, unimpressive moments building upon one another to form this one grand moment. These grand moments reoccur and exist on a spectrum - in the eye of the beholder. What is grand to me, may not be as grand to you. After a time of glee, another process begins and builds again, at least that's how it usually goes for me. Moment by moment. In the making.
I don't "get it" easily. I have a bucket full of "aha" moments, but they don't come without a precursor mixture of frustration, fortitude, humiliation and humility - lasting anywhere between a few too many seconds to what feels like far too many years. One of the grandest, glee-filled "aha" moments for me occurred in July of 2013, which happens to be my Birthday month! After a long wait (yet right on time), I received the best early Birthday present. A gift from above. Grace upon grace. A precious faith.
In that moment, three little words that were stored up in my head, from having heard about it and learned about it over and over and over again, finally clicked and came together in a noticeably meaningful way.
God loves me.
I know it may sound cliche and childish, but bear with me... Is it a childish phrase -or- a childlike faith?
Jesus loves me this I know... not only because the Bible tells me so, not only because Sunday school teachers and pastors and parents and friends told me so, but because I finally understood it and believed it - the basic simplicity and significance of it. I understood that I didn't have to be good enough, I didn't have to be perfect, I didn't have to measure up, and it wasn't conditional upon my best efforts, worst failures, high achievements or attention seeking. I didn't have to earn it - I can't earn it; therefore, I can't lessen it nor lose it.
Freedom came when this unfailing and underlying truth sprang to life - I am loved - just as I am.
This is grace.
Turning 30 was very significant for me. I was done with my 20's - done. Those 10 years were hard, harder than my ignorant, idealistic mind and soft, starry-eyed heart could handle. I had been searching for something missing, without realizing how far off and lost I had become. I had been longing for something more, for someone - for Him, without realizing I didn't truly know Him. I knew about Him, but my knowledge of Him was skewed and stained by so many other unreliable things - building to the point of concealed doubt, distrust and contempt.
I was worn and weary. I was heavy burdened, burned-out and broken. In that rock-bottom lowly place, I believed there was nowhere else to go, no one else to turn to, and nothing for me to bring Him, nothing but my worn-out, broken-open heart that had been purposefully prepared, over the span of nearly 30 years, to receive His love poured out. Hitting rock bottom is the perfect place to begin rebuilding your life, when that Rock is merciful, compassionate, forgiving, and slow to anger - a love like none other, a love that heals, refreshes and restores.
Out of that place of restoration, I was eager to listen, to learn, to study, to store up. Only this time I wasn't trying to earn something, I was earnestly desiring to get to know someone - to know Him - and to be known by Him.
The 3 years that followed (age 30 to 33) were layered thick with intentional and intensive listening, learning, studying, and storing up for the purpose of preserving and enhancing this precious new faith by building upon the solid foundation of grace and truth. Applying effort in building the relationship and building character produces assurance and is an awe-filled, affectionate and grateful response to having been loved.
Whatever it is, that is stored up and secretly treasured within, naturally begins to reveal itself and overflow.
It will be 5 years this coming July. While it may not be as intensive as the first 3 years were, it's consistently intentional as well as influential, impacting and edifying. I am still listening, learning, studying, and storing up. I am still building upon the solid foundation of grace and truth. I am still earnestly desiring to know Him better, to become more like Him, and to love how He loves. I am still in awe over being loved by Jesus and I have grown so convinced - there is no grander love than His love.
Because of this grand and gracious love, I have joyful assurance, unwavering hope and surpassing peace.
End note: You might be thinking or wondering - yeah, okay - I've heard that God loves me, but why? Why does it matter? Why does God love me? Why would He love me? Why would the knowledge of God's love elicit such a grand reaction and grateful response? I don't get it... Well then, I kindly invite you to come and see... and come back to (and subscribe to) She told why for the next post!
Grace and peace ~
SS
Comment below and share one (or a few) of your own noticeably meaningful three little words!
Three little words can have great influence and impact. I mentioned before that I am intrigued by words, but I am also interested in numbers. One, two, three - there's just something about the number 3 that has become appealing to me and anything but random.
The number 3 never stuck out to me as anything noteworthy, until it became noticeably meaningful.
Isn't that true of just about anything you hear about, learn about, study, and store up in your head? It remains stagnant, stale or possibly even superfluous (unnecessary, exceeding what is sufficient, marked by wastefulness), until it becomes something valuable, significant or possibly even sacred, marked by usefulness and understanding - reliable, relevant, relational - as if it springs to life!
I don't "get it" easily. I have a bucket full of "aha" moments, but they don't come without a precursor mixture of frustration, fortitude, humiliation and humility - lasting anywhere between a few too many seconds to what feels like far too many years. One of the grandest, glee-filled "aha" moments for me occurred in July of 2013, which happens to be my Birthday month! After a long wait (yet right on time), I received the best early Birthday present. A gift from above. Grace upon grace. A precious faith.
In that moment, three little words that were stored up in my head, from having heard about it and learned about it over and over and over again, finally clicked and came together in a noticeably meaningful way.
God loves me.
I know it may sound cliche and childish, but bear with me... Is it a childish phrase -or- a childlike faith?
Jesus loves me this I know... not only because the Bible tells me so, not only because Sunday school teachers and pastors and parents and friends told me so, but because I finally understood it and believed it - the basic simplicity and significance of it. I understood that I didn't have to be good enough, I didn't have to be perfect, I didn't have to measure up, and it wasn't conditional upon my best efforts, worst failures, high achievements or attention seeking. I didn't have to earn it - I can't earn it; therefore, I can't lessen it nor lose it.
Freedom came when this unfailing and underlying truth sprang to life - I am loved - just as I am.
This is grace.
...inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit, freely extended to be near to and to bless, undeserved kindness, unmerited favor, compels a response of gratitude...
And His grace to me was not empty or ineffective... His grace to me was deliberate and dynamic!
I was worn and weary. I was heavy burdened, burned-out and broken. In that rock-bottom lowly place, I believed there was nowhere else to go, no one else to turn to, and nothing for me to bring Him, nothing but my worn-out, broken-open heart that had been purposefully prepared, over the span of nearly 30 years, to receive His love poured out. Hitting rock bottom is the perfect place to begin rebuilding your life, when that Rock is merciful, compassionate, forgiving, and slow to anger - a love like none other, a love that heals, refreshes and restores.
Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Out of that place of restoration, I was eager to listen, to learn, to study, to store up. Only this time I wasn't trying to earn something, I was earnestly desiring to get to know someone - to know Him - and to be known by Him.
The 3 years that followed (age 30 to 33) were layered thick with intentional and intensive listening, learning, studying, and storing up for the purpose of preserving and enhancing this precious new faith by building upon the solid foundation of grace and truth. Applying effort in building the relationship and building character produces assurance and is an awe-filled, affectionate and grateful response to having been loved.
Whatever it is, that is stored up and secretly treasured within, naturally begins to reveal itself and overflow.
It will be 5 years this coming July. While it may not be as intensive as the first 3 years were, it's consistently intentional as well as influential, impacting and edifying. I am still listening, learning, studying, and storing up. I am still building upon the solid foundation of grace and truth. I am still earnestly desiring to know Him better, to become more like Him, and to love how He loves. I am still in awe over being loved by Jesus and I have grown so convinced - there is no grander love than His love.
Because of this grand and gracious love, I have joyful assurance, unwavering hope and surpassing peace.
End note: You might be thinking or wondering - yeah, okay - I've heard that God loves me, but why? Why does it matter? Why does God love me? Why would He love me? Why would the knowledge of God's love elicit such a grand reaction and grateful response? I don't get it... Well then, I kindly invite you to come and see... and come back to (and subscribe to) She told why for the next post!
Grace and peace ~
SS
Comment below and share one (or a few) of your own noticeably meaningful three little words!
Sarah this is beautiful! It is wonderful you are following His prompting to start your blog. He has given you an inspiring story to share.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteWith a lump in my throat and tears rolling down my face I tell you that obedience to what He has asked you to put into words(this is harder than it seems) and share is beautiful. I am grateful I clicked on this and read it not once or twice but three times. Blessings on many more blogs to come.
ReplyDeleteKristine
Aw... It brings joy and (much appreciated) encouragement to my heart to know that it touched someone in a meaningful way, so thank you for sharing that with me and putting a smile on my face this morning. God Bless you, Kristine.
Delete