God Creating Loveliness

Yesterday morning, before I left for work, Dan told me I should read the Jesus Calling for that day.

Jesus Calling – November 7

Worship Me in the beauty of holiness. All true beauty reflects some of who I Am. I am working My ways in you: the diving Artist creating loveliness within your being. My main work is to clear our debris and clutter, making room for My Spirit to take full possession. Collaborate with Me in this effort by being willing to let go of anything I choose to take away. I know what you need, and I have promised to provide all of that – abundantly!

Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions or in things going your way. I am training you to depend on Me alone, finding fulfillment in My Presence. This entails being satisfied with much or with little, accepting either as My will for the moment. Instead of grasping and controlling, you are learning to release and receive. Cultivate this receptive stance by trusting Me in every situation.

To think that God is creating LOVELINESS in me, everyday, is so humbling and gives me the warm fuzzies. That God would care THAT much for me! God is clearing clutter and debris in our life – and we are PRAYING that God will fill up those empty spaces with Himself (we have been trying to downsize our possessions). We feel He has cleared out a lot, but recognize He honestly could clear out SO much more! We sometimes feel okay God, enough, but oh do we stop that thought pattern quickly! In all of this though, our heart’s desire is to just have God take complete control of our life. We know we will never fully arrive at that point until Christ comes, when God perfects our faith, but we know God is working that in us continually. It is a painful process at times, but we are excited to see what loveliness comes out in the end!

God knows what we need. Enough said.

We have really felt God nudging our hearts to be willing to give up EVERYTHING for Him. We have downsized quite a bit and are learning what it means to not be dependant on the things of this world. When thinking about where we will be moving, we often say “Am I willing to give this or that up?” And we have learned, we have to say “yes.” Yes to what God may be calling us to. We are in the training process of depending on HIM ALONE – not man. We felt that we lost so much in losing our little babies, but it was God’s will for the moment – to be satisfied with much or little. We are learning what it means to “release” EVERYTHING to God. Some argue about personal property and I believe that I do not “own” anything, but am a steward of what God has given me. My father in law said he heard something on the radio: when you take care of someone else’s house, you take better care of it than your own because it’s not yours. How much more should we do that with what God has given us? What we have been given is NOT ours, but God’s – are we taking “better” care of it because it’s God’s? That thought pattern really challenged me! God can take away and give as He pleases. Dan and I are also learning what it means to receive – to receive such love and support from our families and friends. Sometimes it’s hard, but it has brought us to a realization too, of how much God has given us.

It just takes trusting HIM in every situation – that He WILL provide. He has yet to “fail” us. We waiver in our faith, but God continues to show Himself true and sovereign. I am thankful that God is working in both Dan and I of what it means to give up whatever God asks – we have SO FAR to go – but we are learning.

So where are you when it comes to possessions? Do you see them as “gifts” from God that you are stewards of them? May we all continue to grow in our faith and dependance on Him, instead of our possessions!