Just the way...

So I'm sitting here watching Oprah. I don't do that often, but it's about the Debt Diet and I find it very interesting. Makes me thankful for what I have and for a dad who has taught me to spend wisely...and for parents who do the same thing. For the people on Oprah, it's about getting out of debt and having good credit, it seems, but there are also some good moral values that they are trying to implement as well...i.e. instead of eating out so much, eat at home...spend time with family...family alternatives for shopping, et cetera. But this also comes down to stewardship for me...not only of money but of time. God has blessed me with so much, and I don't want to waste any of it. Not from the financial standpoint, or my family, my friends...my education...and so on. I guess the fact that I skipped NT today wasn't good stewardship...oOo.

...stewardship of my mind...what do I spend time thinking about? Does it honor the Lord? Is it pure?
...stewardship of my body...what am I doing? Am I taking care of the able body that the Lord has given me?

Anyway, I guess when you acknowledge that everything you have is from Him...it makes you more aware of your stewardship of everything...even your mind. After all, it's a gift from Him, and I am/should be giving it all back to Him/using it for His glory. This is really hard for me to grasp...but...He's workin'... ;)

You know what the great thing is, though? God loves me just the same regardless of if I honor Him with the blessings He has given me or not. My mind still has trouble wrapping around this concept because it is so amazing and it doesn't make sense logically. God...grace...sacrifice...it's not logical to our western minds! But I am so entirely thankful...this still doesn't make sense...
But--the love and the grace is His to give. We just gotta ask for it...

The flip side of this is that I want to honor the Lord with all of this...because He has blessed me so. And yet, He still loves me the same. Isn't that amazing!?!?!

So in Bible Study with the girls we've been reading exerpts from Captivating by John and Stasi Elderidge. There are some very radical ideas in there, but some of them are so rooted Biblically...

So just think--
It's what I'm thinking about--
To kind of draw this outpour of thinking to a close--

How is Jesus romancing you?
What blessings has He allowed in your life to show you that He loves you?
What natural beauty have you overlooked that He has put in your life just to draw you to Him?
Have you seen a sunset...the ocean...or an orange moon lately?
What about the rain or birds?

It's all God.
Our God.

He is mighty--He is beautiful. And He is romancing you...Lord, open my eyes to this and plant thanks in my heart! You are beautiful.

-amazed-loved-blessed-
al.



Big Daddy Weave - Just The Way I AmFrom the album What I Was Made For

Unbelievable, I’m blown away it’s true
By the matchless love that I’ve found in You
Undeniable, the changes in me
I’ve never felt so free

It makes me want to dance
You make me want to dance
When I think about how

Chorus:
You love me, You love me
You love me just the way I am
You love me, You love me
You love me just the way,
Just the way I am (repeat)

Ever patiently accepting me
Lord, You love in spite of everything I do
But oh so faithfully
You’re committed to the process that makes me like You
And I feel like I can dance
Oh You make me want to dance
When I think about how You

Not when I’m good enough
Not when I clean my act up
Not when I cross that line the thousandth time
And become a better man
Your grace is more than enough
To cover all my sins You washed them away
So right here today
You love me just the way I am