Father's Love in Losing your Life

It was not a popular message when Jesus in Matthew 10:39 says, "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."  Many wander what this means, was Jesus talking about us dying where our earthly life is over.  The word for "life" is actually "psyche" which in the Greek translates into our soul.  In other words there is a life that has been constructed from the soul which includes our own constructed identity, our provision, and our protection.  This is the very essence of the "orphan heart" which is everything that has been built apart from Father's love.  I have found where Father's love is not flowing through me is where I am still seeking to function and draw life from an "orphan heart".

Could it be that God's grace is that we realize that everything "orphan" in us is dead.  All orphan thinking, living, and grabbing for love in relationships is dead before we even go down this road but we must discover for ourselves that it has no life.  I am convinced that life is to be fully and radically loved by God and to give this love away freely to others through my unique personality.  Even though at times I am deceived to think protecting myself, hiding, withholding my heart, or hoping to be respected or honored by humans is what is important.  Life is actually in exposing our wounds, our great need, and even our hunger for more to the Father to be filled.

I was struck this week as I dealt with personal rejection from others, disappointment in others choices, and even accusation. Where I am still bothered me is where I have not reckoned myself dead (the old orphan life).  There is a joy in loving back those who reject you, accuse you, and even disappoint you but there is a still a tinge of wanting to be honored, have my investment in people recognized, and even a desire to defend myself.  I find these death throes are minimal as I embrace primary purpose of being conformed to the image of Christ.  Jesus loved those who rejected Him, betrayed Him, and even accused Him of being of satan's kingdom.  When we decide to love in the face of rejection, anger, accusation, and others letting us down, it is God's pleasure we experience.  I believe this is when we "...if indeed we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him..."

I believe what Father is desiring is to so fill His children with His love that they no longer need the love of those in the world to fill them.  Then we are completely set free to love unconditionally as He loves.  This is life, to love freely, openly, and fully.  We will be rejected, insulted, and even accused but Father is looking for laid down lovers that will be conduits of His great love to a broken world.

In Father's Love,
Bret

Experiencing Father's Love: Destination or Adventure?

We are planning a vacation to the Gulf Coast of Texas which includes driving about 16 hours, we have a destination.  We aren't necessarily looking for grand adventure as we drive down there but the truth is the best laid plans don't always work out like you think.  Is this the goal of life?  To lay out plans that will work out; meaning that getting to the destination we intend is most important.  After seeing a movie called, "A Story Worth Living" by John Eldredge I began to see that Father was bringing some guidance to my heart.

As I studied the story of Abram who became Abraham (Genesis 12-13), there were dimensions in his story that touch mine and yours as well.  You see "story" is truly where we find meaning, direction, and understand in life.  As a people we love good stories, whether it be a classic tale penned long ago or a more modern tale displayed through Sci-Fi (like Star Wars movies).  It seems we have a constant appetite for "story".  Abram is called by God in Genesis 12 to leave the household of his father to pursue the ongoing journey of the Promise Land.  Abram has a destination, yet  God emphasizes the Promise He has made to Abram and his decendents.  Abram sets out on this grand adventure with all his family, his possessions, and even Lot (another relative).  Yet on the way to his destination (the Promise Land) he hits a snag, there comes a famine on the land.  A famine means that resources like food from the land, feed for the livestock, and water can be in short supply (drought can cause famine).

Abram forgets he is on a grand adventure of trust with God and begins to focus on how will he get his whole enterage to the Promise Land if there is not food or supplies.  Abram turns to go to Eygypt where they have mastered being able to supply themselves and don't need to rely on God.  Then there is another problem with his plan, Sarai his wife is beautiful even though she probably in her 60s.  Since they both lived until they were about 175, she looked more like she was in her 30s.  When the Bible says that every other woman looked like a "monkey" compared to her she must have been a real "looker".  Abram's plan (leaving God out) meant he had to figure out how to slip his gorgeous wife into a hostile country without causing a problem or getting himself killed.  Ah Hah!  The perfect plan came to mind (with the original orphans help), he would simply say that Sarai was his sister so she would still be protected but he would save his own skin.

Abram's plan to get to his destination seemed to be working because this pagan king bought it but he was so enomered with Sarai that he took her to be his wife.  Then because Sarai was supposedly Abram's sister (actually half-sister), then Abram was treated well.  The best laid orphan plans look good in the beginning but then begin to fall apart at the seams.  Soon the king discovered the truth and rebuked Abram and finally kicked him out.  Abram made the destination more important in his focus than being on an adventure with God.

If life is truly a "story" and an adventure then there will be many twists and turns that will challenge us to trust God at greater levels.  Since on an adventure He is actually growing us up through relying on Him.  I am seeing that I have often turned life into a destination rather than allowing it to be an adventure.  Truly, adventures are much more fun but will always include risks, challenges, valleys, and mountain tops.

On Adventure with Father,
Bret

More Lies About Father's Love

-Lie:  Father loves Mother Theresa, Billy Graham, and Heidi Baker.  He tolerates me but always hopes I will be better and be them.

-Truth:  We are the beloved of God (which means worthy of love) because we are “in Christ” (1 John 3:1-2).  He does not see us apart from being “in Christ” and therefore His love towards us is unending.  There are some sons and daughters who have received more of God’s love and thus walk in greater favor.  Not everyone has the same level of favor (Matthew 25:15-29- “Parable of the Talents”).  God wants you to increase in favor and He is not limiting the favor you can receive and walk in.

-Lie:  Father is irritated with my weaknesses and how I just should be stronger and full of more faith by now.

-Truth:  Actually, Father displays His grace in the midst of our weakness and loves to transform us in these places (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

-Lie:  If I was not so dependent, needy, and weak then He would love me more.  I irritate Him when I constantly come to Him with my needs and problems.

-Truth:  He is a good Father and knows that you were created to be dependent on Him, He delights to meet your needs (John 15:1-9, Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:11, 25-33).

-Lie:  When I am hurting and part of it is because of my choices, then Father is not interested in comforting me.  I need to learn my lesson.

-Truth:  Father comforts us in all our afflictions (even those that are partly or fully self-imposed), He doesn’t put limits on His comfort and even gives us the Comforter (Holy Spirit to live in us).  Jesus wept with Martha and Mary even though He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, He wept with those who wept and rejoiced with those who rejoiced (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

-Lie:  Father would love me if I was more like ____________ but until then He puts up with me.

-Truth:  The Word is clear that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  I was made in the image of God even though that image has been tarnished by sin and the Fall, I was designed reflecting Him with my own glory (from Him).  Psalm 139:13-14, Psalm 8.  Then as a New Creation unified with Christ there is a glory being manifesting in us and through our unique person (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 and 2 Corinthians 4:6-7).  Father has done everything in Christ to restore us to our original design and even beyond because now Christ dwelling in us (the hope of glory).  Colossians 1:27

The Truth will set us free,

Bret

Lies about Father's Love

-Lie:  Father will love me more if I am consistent in my regular quiet times.

-Truth:  God is love, His love for me is not dependent on what I do for Him but who He is (1 John 4:8).  Spending time with Him receiving His love does grow your relationship and thus produce a desire to be more consistent.

-Lie:  Father is disappointed in me because I am still wrestling with the same struggle and I haven’t gotten victory.

-Truth:  All God’s disappointment because of sin was poured out on Jesus, this includes yours (2 Corinthians 5:21).  God once spoke to me that if He was disappointed in me, He would have to be disappointed in Jesus (I am in Him) and that will never happen.

-Lie:  Father would love me more if I would just share the gospel, He is ashamed of me because I am not bold.

-Truth:  As we receive Father’s unconditional love for us then we begin to love others and seek to share the Good News (1 John 4:7-11).  Greatest Commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength (Matthew 22:37-39).  You will love your neighbor as you love yourself and you will love yourself as you receive Father’s love for you “in Christ”.

-Lie:  Father is angry with me for how I keep getting stuck in the same pattern of selfishness and self-centeredness.

-Truth:  You are a New Creation and the old has passed away, selfishness and self-centeredness are part of the old self (2 Corinthians 5:17 and Romans 6:3-6).

-Lie:  Father is disappointed with me because I don’t have more joy, peace, and patience by now.

-Truth:  He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion (Philippians 1:6).  We don’t produce Fruit of the Spirit by our own effort, instead by yielding to the work of the Spirit in our lives.

-Lie:  Father feels I should be farther along in my maturity by now and look more like Jesus than I do.

-Truth:  Father has taken responsibility to father you through all your stages of growth and is even able to use any and all circumstances to conform us to the image of Jesus (John 15:1, Romans 8:28-29).  The enemy of our souls loves to get us to self-evaluate, either we end up in pride because we think we are doing so well or the pit because we are a failure.  Either way he wins.  Agree with Father that He is causing all things to work together for your good (Romans 8:28-29)

-Lie:  I am too broken and dysfunctional for Father to love me.  He can accept and love others but not me.

-Truth:  Father loved us at our worst while we were yet sinners, brokenhearted, in bondage, prisoners.  He has promised to oversee our journey from death to life (Romans 3:23, Romans 5:6 & 8, Ephesians 2:1-7).

You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free,

Bret