Chasing His Heart

"David--He chased God's own heart. All I ever seem to chase is me." -The Chasing Song, Andrew Peterson

As some of you may know, I recently moved to Green Bay & wake up at 5:30 for a "full-time job" with 40-50 hours a week. I actually thought going from 3 school days and 18 hours of work to THIS would be insanely impossible--but I actually find it beautiful. There is something wonderful with a consistency and stability. In college, I was sporadically waking up, randomly doing homework, and constantly on the internet. Now? Well, I'm still on the internet each evening, but my life is SO different! One thing I love about my new "life" here in Green Bay is that each morning my uncle and I sit to read our Bibles and eat breakfast. So beautiful. So peaceful.
And why did I start doing this? Because I saw HIM do it, and I thought, Hmm. I should read my Bible at breakfast too. So as a side note, I can't WAIT to set that example for my children.

But anywhos. Back on topic. I've been studying a lot of the Old Testament, because I feel very unfamiliar with the stories. When I studied the New Testament, I took a good year to read over & over the chapters and books--almost memorizing where things were sectioned off. Last summer I began digesting that New Testament--digging it out for extra meaning. This year's plan? Read Old Testament over and over again. Next year? Study it for in-depth meaning. Of course, I'm already doing that now.

STILL not on "topic" yet. DAVID. GOD. HIS PLAN. That's my topic.

As I mentioned to a friend last night, I have been reading II Samuel 6-12. Those are some of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I was first interested after reading David's prayer in chapter 7. David decides, "Oh. I'm gonna build a temple for God, because I have a big kingdom and God just has a tent." But instead, God says that He doesn't want a "house to dwell in." He's GOD! So God continues telling David that He has an AWESOME plan for David's throne. That of his descendant will come a King that establishes the throne forever.

2 Sam 7:12-13
12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
(NIV)

And what does David do? Well, remember when I posted a blog about worship being instinctive & immediate? That's right. David praises God. But check out this AWESOME prayer:

2 Sam 7:18-29
18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD?
20 "What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign LORD.
21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
22 "How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.
23 And who is like your people Israel-- the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?
24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O LORD, have become their God.
25 "And now, LORD God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised,
26 so that your name will be great forever. Then men will say, 'The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will be established before you.
27 "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, 'I will build a house for you.' So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer.
28 O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever."
(NIV)

That right there just sets a PERFECT example of a prayerfully-minded man. WOW.

Well, let's continue. Chapters 8, 9, & 10. "In the course of time, David defeated this people and this people and this people...." Because of who? GOD. <--This could definitely lead into another passage on Psalm 33, but I'll relax. Too much information!

Chapter 11. Uh-oh. We all know this story. David sees a beautiful woman. Uriah's wife Bathsheba. This woman was more than likely gorgeous, hot, sexy, beautiful, and more-- because he SAW this woman from his roof top. Now, I don't know how close the houses were to his kingdom. But wow!

As the story goes, David sleeps with her, works his way around hiding it, gets word that Bathsheba is pregnant, and Uriah gets put at the front of the battle lines to die. David gets his wife Bathsheba, the baby is "struck by God and becomes ill" and dies.
David sleeps with his new wife and they have a second child together: Solomon who is also known as Jedidiah. (fun fact. I didn't know that!)

So here we have it. The summary: Something GREAT (God's promise) causes David to instantly worship God (the prayer) but then not too soon after, he falls into temptation (sins with Bathsheba) but God used this sin for the good of His glory (Solomon would be the ancestor of Joseph--the husband of Mary, the mother of Christ).

Is this not AMAZING? God has promised us so much in our lives. And so many times we have to live by faith--not knowing if plans now will affect our lives later, or hundreds of years later! But sometimes, in the midst of "good times," we forget God's goodness and fall into temptation & sin. Just like David. But despite these times--God can use our evil & sin and make good come from it. Just like Solomon and his purpose to be an ancestor of Jesus Christ. WOW. David wouldn't see THAT plan come into effect until hundreds and hundreds of years later. Pretty neat, huh?

That's enough for now. This is ultimately the longest post I've written and will more than likely be used for a devotion!

Love is in the Air

You know what? I actually REALLY looked forward to this Valentine's Day! It is so beautiful to see the loving relationships God is putting together in everyone's lives. Even the relationships that I don't necessarily agree with...I understand that God still has an ultimate plan!

I cannot believe how joyful and beautiful yesterday was! But I will admit, I did a LOT of thinking. And God revealed to me a few revelations!

Revelation 1.
I'm single. A lot of my other friends are single. Some day down the line, I will be married, I will have children, and many responsibilities. So for now, I'm going to enjoy my singleness. I can spend money on whatever I want or need.  I can use my time in any way I choose.  I can go places.  Explore the world.  Because right now I have no obligations. So I might as well enjoy it now. (Yes, these last statement seems kinda secular...) But God does say in 1 Corinthians 7:

Each one of you should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.

So if God wants me to be single...single I am! :D

Revelation 2.
I was thinking about a relationship I saw once, involving a godly man and a woman who was not a believer. And not just that she wasn't a believer, but she ALSO wasn't living her life with any limitations.
But this girl that I was observing...she didn't even care. Her life was hers. Self-absorbed and not living a godly life. It would sadden me if the two of them married and she was never the godly woman, wife, or mother that she needed to be!

Now I have no right to judge. But seeing this really got me thinking. If I were the one in that relationship, I would need take a step back and think Wow. I need to get things right with God because I'm not ready to be the godly woman he needs.

It's true even today. I am now examining my life realizing that I am not ready to have my children looking up to me! I am not ready to have my husband respect me! I still have SOOO much to learn/read in God's Word and put into practice! I know that I will always be walking this continual journey of faith--always improving, learning, and being sanctified--but I want to make sure that I am FULLY content with my God, my Lord, and my Savior before I can become someone else's contentment! Before someone else can be MY contentment!

So this Valentine's day...if you're feeling alone because God hasn't brought that "special someone" into your life--USE this day to examine yourself. See what areas in your life still need to be worked out. And take heed to this verse in Philippians 2:12-13:

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (NIV)

The word work out is seen in greek as katergazomai. And that word is created from 2 greek words "kata" and "ergazomai". With a definition of to work fully, to toil, to commit to and accomplish. Meaning--we need to be fully committed to what God wants for us. His Will and desire. And we cannot know His Will or purpose if we are not even striving to know Him!

So work it out. Waiting on God's timing just gives us MORE time to work out what areas need improvement and to become godly men and women. So that one day--we can be in an indescribable relationship that God so neatly fashioned together!

Voice Your Opinion

One of the shortest and most powerful quotes I heard the other day came from a comment to my status, which at the time was "Kristine is in a "I WILL voice my opinion" mood. Who should I talk to first?"

This was the comment: "God."

Wow. How true is that? So many times I know I want to take things into my own hands and tell people they're doing something wrong. But that isn't my place. God has promised justice to those that offend and oppose us. It is not my will, but His justice that is fair and truly just.

I was ready today to speak to a lot of people on how they've hurt me, how they've hurt themselves, how they've hurt others. I guess you could say I was going to "lecture" and "preach" and YELL. But you know what? It is not my call. I have no right punishing or yelling at someone just because they have hurt me. Just because things still hurt.

So what can we do? Well, we can voice our opinion to God. Because the more we talk to Him, the more we understand Him, and the more we act like Him.

hmm...Who should I talk to first?

"God? It's me."

This is How We Do It - Worship

"Worship = Declaring the very nature & character of God. It is natural, instinctive, & immediate. When we see the glory of God, we already know what to do and how to do it. Worship."

I recently went to a Worship Workshop at my home church. The worship pastor quoted this last phrase, and it just powerfully struck me. Worship music is my passion...my way of communicating with God and feeling His presence. But music is not just a "way of communication", but a way of LIFE. Worshiping God should be as natural (if not more natural) than being alive itself. Why? Because it is that great GOD Who is keeping us alive.

Better yet, He isn't just keeping us alive...He is taking both small & big steps to plan our lives and put it all together like a puzzle. I love how Psalm 33 puts it:

The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of His people. The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. ~Psalm 33:10-11

If you were to read the introduction verses in this Psalm, you would find that the whole point of this Psalm is to show WHY we need to praise God and HOW we need to praise God.

But really- shouldn't it be so natural to do so?

I have been having conflicts with my work schedule and wanting to be on the worship team. I knew that if it was God's will, He would put me on the worship team, no matter what my work schedule looked like. Today, I found out that my good friend will work for me every Sunday if I can work for her every Saturday. I love it. PRAISE GOD, for He has blazed the way in which I can attend church AND play music!

And what happened next? I naturally and instinctively and immediately praised God.

Because that is how worship works.

Like Being In Love...for the First Time

"I have this passion and desire to learn and know him! Looking for him after class, watching him out the window, seeing how he worked with other people, smiling with every laugh.
And all that time....falling more and more in love with him."

All of us remember those first days of "love"--when you see a person you're interested in, and you begin to learn them inside out. There is so much passion to truly know that person. I remember cherishing every moment of those days-- using all my heart to please the one I love.

Now, you know that I am indeed going to use this quote and tie it to God, so here it goes!

I've been going through the book of Deuteronomy (which indeed is an EXCELLENT book of the Bible). Moses is continually reminding the people not to forget what God has done in the past...that first Love. Check this passage out:

Deut 11:1-7
1 Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.
2 Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the LORD your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm;
3 the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country;
4 what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the LORD brought lasting ruin on them.
5 It was not your children who saw what he did for you in the desert until you arrived at this place,
6 and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth right in the middle of all Israel and swallowed them up with their households, their tents and every living thing that belonged to them.
7 But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the LORD has done.
(NIV)

God brought them through SO much! And yet they were so quick to forget His love. (Later on Moses says they need to teach their children too. I love that passage.)

Take a moment to reflect on what God has done in your life. Have we forgotten His love? His faithfulness? His mighty hand?

The book of Deuteronomy is always showing me how important it is to follow His commands and remembering His love for us. I know that often I enjoy in the great pleasures of life...but slowly fade away from His love.

Remember loving for the first time? There is Love that I need to still be pursuing DAILY. As if I was in love again for the first time...

Investment of Time

"It's like a relationship. If you don't put the time into it, then you seem to lose interest in it."

How true is that?

It's been a good...eh...I'd say 5 weeks since the whole deal wondering when my best friend would "talk" to me. And that was something I really had to trust God with. But finally, this weekend--we talked for the first time. It was beautiful. To actually be friends. To actually talk like friends. I've been waiting a LONG time! It seems like the last 5 weeks, I don't even know who he is anymore because we haven't talked!

I wonder if God sees me like that some days. I'll bet He's WAITING and waiting and WAITING for weeks thinking to himself Hmm...when is Kristine going to talk to me? The choice is mine. He's already extended the invitation.

The choice is yours. If you don't put time into a relationship, then you are going to lose interest in it.

My relationship with God is WAY too important for me to back down on this. I don't ever want to lose interest in something as amazing as this.

So think of that next time it seems you haven't "talked" to someone in a while. If you're not careful, that relationship might fade away...

God's Control

"If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it was and always will be yours. If it never returns, it never was yours."

Maybe this is more of a secular statement, but I find it applying to so much in my life. There is always something we are holding onto. (Whether we admit it or not is a different story...) but there is always a time when we need to just let it go, and allow ourselves to be free of it. Maybe you have heard the verse in Matthew 11 which states

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

But you know, maybe this quote isn't just about the troubles in our lives. It's about the things we love. Sometimes it's easy to say to God, Hey! I give it up, I don't want this anymore. The hard part comes when it's something we LOVE that we don't want to give up.

I have experienced this so many times. There is a lot in my life that I want to hold onto...that I don't want to give up. But I find that when I offer my entire life to God, he blesses it. He chooses what to give, and He chooses what to take away. I need to set it free. He needs to control it. And if what I love comes back to me, it is mine. If it never does...well, I guess it's all in God's hands.