Our Identity

We often feel Our identity is wrapped up in many things, our age whether we're a teen, young adult, middle aged or in our senior years. Maybe we feel that our identities are wrapped up in what we studied at school or maybe didn't study if we've never gone to post secondary school. Our professions- people historically and presently put a good deal of our identity into what our job was/is, in fact it's where many people's last names come from (Baker, Smith etc). We often find friends based on shared hobbies we enjoy, whether that is sports, music, dance, art, learning new languages or fixing cars.

For some they would say their identity is in what their personality is like, some go by more general terms such as laid-back, easy going, serious, fun loving, or intellectual while others may try to find our who they think they are by doing personality tests - any other ISFJ's out there? ;)

While it's not wrong to identify yourself by these things  - because your profession, interests and personality type do say a lot about who we are, they are never our complete identity.

However,  we often identify ourselves by things that aren't so great too... in our deepest darkest thoughts we think that who we are is in our bad habits, our addictions, our mental illnesses, or our weaknesses, but that is exactly why Christ came to earth, so we would no longer have to only identify  as sinners and things we are not proud of  but so that we could identify with being sons and daughters of the most high king.


In the very beginning God said that we were made in His image [Genesis 1:27], that we were fearfully and wonderfully made [Psalm 139:14], to those who believe He has given us the right to become a Child of God [John 1:12], We are a temple of the holy spirit [1 Corinthians 6:19], we are His workmanship [Ephesians 2:10] and we have been justified and redeemed [Romans 3:24]!!!



So what does all this mean? Yes, it is SO amazing to think about but what do we do with it in everyday life?

I used to be very different than how I am now - in who I thought I was, what I was to other people, but when I accepted Christ at seventeen and from that point forward I have noticed that who I am has changed....a lot! How I see myself, and how I relate to others, but my interests and hobbies and the things/issues I care about have changed radically. But being a Christian is not about molding our beliefs and identity to God but Him molding us into our identity in Him! 

Everyone;s lives look different, what we get up to on a day to day basis is unique and different and yet we are all called to do the same thing in Philippians 1:27 we are to "conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ"

 So whether you can interpret sign language, step dance, teach, bake, weld or play an instrument, do it all for the glory of God! Because when all else fades, when we can no longer work or dance or play soccer that is truly where our identity may be found!  :) 

More than the surface

Lately, I feel like I've had some very surface level relationships with family, friends and even, perhaps especially, with God. And I haven't really noticed it in my own life until now but I think when this happens we suffer from relational poverty.
 Lack of relationships has been studied a lot in recent years and it's been found that a lack of good, healthy, deep relationships can contribute to mental health issues, addictions, and loneliness.


Looking from it now it seems very obvious I have been craving deep conversations and heart to hearts, I want to be able to know about others and where their heart is at - the things they care deeply about and know what goes on in the day to day life of people... but closing myself off because 'everyone is too busy for me' or 'I don't really have a lot going on for anyone to ask/care about what's happening in my heart'  crying out: 'where did my best friends go? Do I really know them anymore? Do they know me?'


It's a very painful reality - and I have been on the other side of this - where I volunteered in college - you could sometimes see the same questions coming from the people who came into the drop in and I desperately wanted to let them know that "'I'm here - I care for you, I want to know you, I want to know about your life, I want a more than surface relationship with you"'

As I am writing this I am just in awe of how much this reflects what God's heart is for us. God wants to know us, and have heart to hearts and be involved in our lives, he wants more than just a surface relationship.


Sadly, this is not what things have been like between myself and God lately. It's been kinda tough as my job has me working every Sunday I no longer get to go to church, to meet with other believers and most of my good friends live a good distance away so I have closed myself off for the most part. But in my heart I'm crying out .. and now on my blog I'm typing it.

Yes, things have been pretty surface lately.  Yea.. I pray for other people.. for 10 minutes...and I honestly do care for them and their situation and mean it - but getting involved with my own heart...Sorry-not-sorry, but I don't really want to go there today... And yea, I have been reading my bible most days.. but I don't want to get too close...  because hey, things are decent on the surface!

When I have prayed about things in my own life I cried to God  " Tell me what the next step is, but don't tell me what to do"  "Take this from me, I don't want it!"  but I didn't want to give myself. 

And that has been my issue lately, trudging along, wanting God to do things in my life, wanting to have this intimacy but not allowing it to happen for whatever reason... because of sin in my life?  because I want to have a pity party some days? Because I've been putting my trust in human relationships and being disappointed? I'm sure others have been in this situation to and had similar reasons.
But this whole time my heart has been desperately longing for this intimacy, God just had to make me realize it by mirroring it in my relationships with others to draw me back close and to have this heart to heart and be transparent with God again!

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”

Your face, Lord, I will seek.

~Psalm 27:8~

*Originally this was just going to be for me to type to get things out, to be honest with God.
 I didn't have intentions of publishing this post, but I feel that it could be helpful to someone else, so here it is.

Reconcile and redeem

Lately I've been thinking a lot about how God is going to make everything new and His amazing ability to redeem and reconcile anything and everything! 

 I've been in awe of how God plans on redeeming creation - in Revelation 21 , John writes that "I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and first earth had passed away.."   This is following the second coming of Jesus but it just astounds me. I think this earth is beautiful and gorgeous NOW, even though it's fallen even though there is sickness and death upon it. And He's going to make a new one. But something I had never really thought about was the 'new heaven' - Why I wonder does God need to make a new heaven, that is where God already dwells but  He's going to make a new heaven for us to spend eternity there with Him! Wow!

Along the same lines, God is able to reconcile everything that we give to Him  - recently He has been doing just that in my own life, as I surrender things that hurt to let go of - yet hurt more to carry - He has been able to start a miraculous healing where I know otherwise I would be bitter, grumpy, sad about it I can rejoice because well...God is good! It has been really neat in my own life to see how God brings it about and I'm excited to see what else He is going to do as I give things to Him and turn from things that I know haven't been in their right place. 

 And He can do this in all things, whether that's relationships with others, our attitudes, the use of resources, talents and time. God WANTS to reconcile and redeem what we give to Him, to help return it to what it should be - in heaven and on earth- for His glory!

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Jesus],  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.Colossians 1: 19-20  

Past, Present, Future

As Christmas time approaches it is important to remember the baby in a manger - because who would have ever dreamed that we could hold God in our hands, He is the baby that would grow to be a man and bring salvation for all.
As I was thinking about that I began to ponder that salvation is not necessarily a one time, one moment occurrence, but much more than that...

 There are a few things that have lead me to this conclusion...

First, the most very basic tidbit of theology.  We have been saved!
 But saved from what exactly?
From the penalty of the law, from sin, and from spiritual death. That is past tense, the act has already been done for us, we just have to believe and accept.

Second, We are BEING saved. 

Outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day {2 Cor. 4:16}. 
People change everyday - for instance, biologically our cells die and replace themselves, new thoughts and idea and decisions are made, Spiritually, if we are spending time with God we are being renewed.
 Following Jesus is a journey, a process., one that doesn't stop,
"Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,  for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose {Phil. 2:12-13}" I know I'm not the same person I was 4 years ago and that God is slowly changing me to be more like Jesus. When there is evidence of God's work in my life  I know and can not deny that I'm being saved.  


Lastly, We WILL be saved.
Wait but I thought that had already happened? Yes. But... isn't it happening right now? Remember that process that was just mentioned?  Yes.

But God has an eternal plan. As already mentioned - Through Jesus we are saved from the punishment of the law of God, from sin - God gives us the power to have victory over sin in this life. His eternal plan though is something that can not take place in this age, on this earth,
He also wants to save us from the very presence of sin.

Since God is holy -and unable to be in the presence of sin and - one day WE will also be with God in heaven (Reminder: where there can be no sin)!
So the third part of salvation is something that has not happened yet, it is in the future.
 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,  who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time {1 Peter 1: 3-5}."

We are being made holy and set apart for the fulfillment of this promise of eternal life -This future salvation -without sin for good! (And God always keeps His promises). 

"Broken Homes"

I;m taking a bit of a hop outside of what I typically write about on here - typically what I write is a bit about what God has been teaching me personally but here I would like to get into more of a social issue, from a biblical perspective, and it's been on my heart to write about this specific topic...

Broken homes. A term used to describe homes in which parents have divorced or separated.

Can I just say that I think we - in society, and in the church- should stop using the term 'broken homes'. First of all, it can be really hurtful for everyone involved, it insinuates that a person (whether a child of the couple or one of the parents) has been broken, that something isn't right with them, it can be devaluing as if being in a certain situation such a divorce/separation makes you less of a person and I'm guilty of this too, however a conscious effort should be made to stop.

It's true that the issues and consequences of divorce can have devastating effects on everyone involved.  And that is because it was not intended as part of God's plans for the earthly family. God is clear on the issue, He hates divorce [Malachi 2:16] but it happens and will continue to in this world.

And this is where I will get to the part of this issue that has been on my heart... that a 'broken home' as we call it- isn't just one that has been affected by divorce.

A broken home is one in which the family is not living for God and His glory.

Maybe that's a bold statement but self admittedly we are all broken without God - a part of us is incomplete - because we were made for relationship with Him. So why should it be different for the family? It's something God created for our joy and His glory.

There are so many situations in which people are living in that despite there not being a divorce the family is not as God intended it to be.
Wouldn't a home with chronic addiction be considered 'broken'? Where a parent or perhaps teenager in the home is only living for the next hit? What about trauma or abuse - physical, emotional sexual?, or parents that fight constantly but are still together at least in the legal sense- And these things can cause parents, teenagers, even young children to want to skip out on having a family of their own one day - Remember that family was designed by God to give us joy... So this is not what God intended, and it breaks His heart just as much as divorce would.


That's why I believe it's important to be aware of this, and - when someone's family life is not what God intended - it's been 'broken' in some sense - for God's family to come alongside, because His plan is to redeem families through Christ.

The 10th Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

~Exodus 20: 17~

I've been thinking about the 10th commandment the last few days and was struck by the fact that first we are not to covet our neighbour's things/possessions but it's also mentions not to covet your neighbour's wife. As I thought through that it seemed different than the command to not commit adultery/look at another lustfully, because that's what I thought of at first.

 But then I thought of all the times that I've wished that I could have someone else's life. Be living their adventure, doing what they're doing, be good at the things they are good at. THAT is where, I believe, the heart of this commandment is. Because we all covet people - at some point. We think we would like to be who they are, or if it's in a romantic sense, want to be with them, to have a person to ourselves, we may also go as far as to make an idol out of them.

God always has reasons for the things He commands and so I was thinking about the reason' behind this one and came to thinking that - we aren't to covet possession's because God wants us to be thankful for what we do have and to be content with it as well.

We're also not to covet 'our neighbour's wives' or any other person because of a reason similar to the first point - that we are to be content and thankful what God has given us , our own abilities, talents etc. and also the friends, family, and acquaintances around us. But the second point is that to wish you 'had' and certain person or to wish you were another person - would dehumanize another by making them - a person made in the image of God- an mere object in your mind.
It also devalues what God has made by forgetting about the time and effort He put into creating YOU specifically.
Going around with these thoughts can cause one to doubt God and His goodness and question 'why isn't my life a certain way or as 'good' as someone else's!'
And That's a road that is not good for anyone to wander down.

"The Lord is righteous in all His ways..."

~Psalm 145:17~ 

He heals the brokenhearted

So this post is going to be a little bit more personal than usual but I need to write it out - so here it is.

The other night my boyfriend and I broke up. Yep, that was hard to write. I'm not going to go into more details but God is calling us in different directions in life. In my heart and in his we know this is the right thing, there is a certain peace about it but that doesn't take away the pain.

The sinful part of my nature wants to be angry, to find someone to blame, but I know stooping to that will not honor God or the decision and when I'm hurting I keep recalling different scriptures and trying to lean on Jesus when it's overwhelming. 

This morning I checked the Verse of the day on my phone and it was from 1 Samuel 12 - Verse 15:

" But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors."

That was my first reminder, that obeying God in more important than anything and that it won't be good for anyone who pushes and fights against it. 

My second reminder came from several days before the break up, I was reading through 1 Corinthians 7, which for quick reference is Concerning married life/the unmarried and my thoughts were stuck on verses 34-35: 

"An unmarried woman is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.  I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord."

And at the time I thought and just said to God, that I would be content in serving Him whether single or married and God definitely reminded me of it! And I don't take it back. Yes I'm hurting, I'm not ok right this second - but I will be, 

Because He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 

Praise God! 

Housekeeping *

I haven't posted much in a while, I got a job working in housekeeping at a hotel recently, though it's not my field of work or where I'd hoped to be, but God has been teaching me things where I am as I work and wait for directions into my next step of life. Currently I have plans to go back to school for a post diploma 1 year course, so we'll see what happens there!

Right now though, I'm in housekeeping and God has been teaching me to be content and even joyful in my circumstances where most co-workers complain about being there every single day, it's hard to not go right along with that - yes there are things to complain about but well it's pretty clear where God stands on the issue of complaining and being unthankful, so that is where I must stand on the issue and let him help me to not have that sin take over.

God has also been teaching me a bit about humbleness. Housekeeping can be a pretty dirty job, and yes some people actually do trash hotel rooms - it's not just in movies- but this is work that is mostly unnoticed, unappreciated and something you have to do all over again the next day - this is another area when it can become easy to start complaining but somehow, when I start thinking about it I just picture Jesus washing His disciples feet and how He would have washed everyone's feet and I think about that sometimes when I'm scrubbing bathroom floors - that Jesus is the most beutifully humble person and I want to emulate that as well.

illustrated verse (again)

I made this little piece for my good friend and was able to give it to her on Thursday!

Based on her favourite bible verse- Romans 8: 38-39  :)

 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 

neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God

~

I hadn't posted it before hand because she actually reads my blog and I wanted to surprise her!  ;) 

My Shield

Currently I seem to be in one of the strangest parts of life..
I just graduated college and am looking for a job in my field, I've moved back home, all my friends have moved to different cities for school, jobs etc.  and there doesn't seem to be much here for me any more. It really is a difficult stage to be in. I truly have no clue where I should be, if  I should be waiting on God for something or if I should be choosing a specific city that isn't a small town for work or if I should do some online courses. I really truly have no idea. It's frustrating, I want to cry, I want to be out serving people again, having adventures, have peers my own age around, but that's not what my circumstances are right now.

Though I'm having a difficult time, I love how throughout the bible God is often referred to as a shield.

As I was thinking about this I pictured soldiers, and super heroes and characters who have shields portrayed in movies and I began to think about how God - when described as a shield is different.

Firstly,  God as a shield, as a protector, would cover all of us (not just half of us, such as in war movies), whether we know it or not - It's unbelievable to think of all the ways He protects us that we will probably never find out about until we see Him face to face.

Secondly, a shield can represent a family or group you belong to - We belong to God!

Lastly, we wouldn't need a shield if we didn't need protection, if we weren't constantly in a spiritual battle raging around us. Thankfully God is strapped to us but we have to keep fighting, advancing forwards - pressing on, but we have a protector who loves us and covers all of us.
And that is really encouraging :)

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

~Psalm 18:30 ~

We wait in hope for the Lord, he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.

~Psalm 33:20-22~

Unashamed

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

~Romans 1:16~

Have you ever had those moments where you've said something or someone else has said something that only another Christian would understand? Different phrases that become popular in these circles (apparently they call this 'Christian-ese') - I have no issue against it, That's all fine and dandy, but what if that person says that sort of thing in front of people who are not Christians, who don't understand it? It makes your stomach a little bit queasy and you might think 'oh man, this person/group of people are going to think I'm a total weirdo if I agree with this?' ... I wouldn't want that would I?

That queasy feeling my friends, is your self preservation taking over - this is the part where you start to care more about yourself and what others think of you than you do about the glory of Christ.

I've found throughout college that this happened a lot. And there were two choices - staying silent or letting it be an opportunity.  An opportunity to explain what others might mean by 'christian-ese' sayings.
The second best way I've found these opportunities come up is in news stories, everyone talks about the news -especially stories about chaos and controversial issues- I usually love this opportunity because there is a chance to come at an issue with a biblical outlook - one that many may not get to hear and shows where God hearts is in things rather than one's own personal opinion on everything.

But... what will I say?  That's usually the next question in my mind and I'm always encouraged that firstly, if you've been spending time with God, and reading His word then you will know  where God stands on certain issues that are talked about in the bible the second piece that encourages me is this verse (and the two similar in Mark 13:11 & Luke 12:11) ::

"and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.“But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. “For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you." 

Mark 10:18-20

I know these situations and scenarios will constantly come up in life and they have, I know I have stayed silent before and I have felt the uncomfortable squirm as people give each other questioning looks as if asking - is she for real?  I hope that when these things do come up I can pray past the discomfort and possible humiliation and stand unashamed for the gospel and for Jesus, Because He is not ashamed to call me His sister.

Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 

Hebrews 2:10-11

A wedding picture

I drew this piece today because lately I've been dwelling on Jesus coming back for a bride and how beautiful and lovely and glorious it will be. This picture is based on Revelation 19:7 

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb  has come, and His bride has made herself ready" 

I wanted to capture Jesus coming from the clouds in His glory, as a blinding light, which is why we can not actually see Him
(Also: I can not drawn men very well so this spared your eyes my attempt).

I also wanted to capture the bride waiting for Him and looking to Him as He comes for her.
Another small detail I added was that the aisle the bride is walking down is actually a ray of light coming from Jesus himself, which is easy to over look  and not notice at first glance, but I feel it's important! 

I hope whoever sees this enjoys!:) 

Goodbyes

The last week has been hard. I finished my college program -so now I'm a graduate! Which is awesome, but it means I'm moving back home and have had to say a lot of goodbye's.
I'm really really glad for my time here, the things I learned, the people I've met, and I'm glad that I didn't waste it.

My memories of college will of course include sitting in class, sitting in lounges during a three hour break, assignments,  hanging out with my peers,silly jokes and studying. But what I'm most thankful for is that during my two years here I've been able to be a tiny light to people in my secular college. Having conversations about religion, God and who Jesus is to friends and acquaintances, singing worship songs at the bus stop, volunteering with adults living in poverty and learning to love them as Jesus loved the poor people of his time, singing, joking, dancing and praying with people who became friends at bible study, going to do street ministry downtown with friends from bible study,  getting connected with a good church family who cared for me (even if they forgot what program I was in).

These are the memories that are most prominent, this is what I had prayed for before I came to college - to make a lasting, eternal impact on people while I was here - and I sincerely hope I did that. g


So yes, I'm incredibly sad to be moving home, I love my life here and would like to stay and have been thinking the last month about how much I don't want to move back home. And God's been convicting me of that. He;s saying 'Shannon, A new chapter is starting' and He is reminding me that I need to be content in that, despite my feelings about it.
 Now it is time to go home and still be that light until God shows me what I need to be doing there or where He is leading me next.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

~ 1 Timothy 6:6-7 ~

Holy is his name

Exalt the Lord our God  

and worship at his footstool;

    He is holy. 

~Psalm 99:5~

I'm so glad and so very thankful that God is Holy.

Just try to actually think about that...
It's truly impossible to comprehend the concept of someone being truly and completely holy when living in a world of sin and sinners.  I now I'll never really understand until I see God face to face but the small sliver that I can understand brings me to my knees and makes me want to sing and cry all at the same time!

I know my posts have been short and few lately but I just really wanted to get this out. I've taken a good part of this weekend (while I was sick in bed) to re examine my heart and I did not like what I saw and just knew I absolutely had to get back into a place of awe and rejoicing in God's presence before anything could really change in my heart to stir me out of mediocrity. And So I chose to focus on how holy God is and now my little heart is just overflowing with joy! :)
Be encouraged friends!

Another illustrated verse

Another illustrated bible verse I drew up.
 What do y'all think? :) 

~~ 2 Corinthians 6:14 ~~
 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Journaling bible

So the last month I've come across some neat stuff on Instagram where people illustrate bible verses in their bible's. There's truly some neat stuff out there  and I've done a couple of my own that I wanted to show my blogging friends!  (more to come in the future!)

So this was the first one I did. Hosea 10:12

The second one.
Psalm 136 

I find that bible journal-ling helps me to memorize scripture better because I have to write it out (usually a few times) as I plan out a rough draft before making the artwork on water colour !   :) 

Justified through Faith

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,

    and do not resent his rebuke,

12 

because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

    as a father the son he delights in.

~Proverbs 3:11-12 ~

Lately in my walk with God I have been avoiding discipline almost like the plague, and when I haven't been running away from it completely, I have been hiding behind self-justification... and that is one of the worse things I think I can do because it allows my own pride to grow and keeps me in a mindset where I can not be humble and repentant before God.

As soon as I start thinking thoughts like 'God can't possibly care about this one little issue' That's when I know I'm not in a good place... and yet here I am ready and willing to admit it and still a part of me is trying to justify this... literally right now as I'm writing this I thought 'well I could be doing way worse' !!! It seems completely unbelievable, I'm actually appalled with myself!

 I've been struggling with God a lot lately the last few months, I've been too caught up in self and distractions and situations/circumstances in my life.  I definitely need prayer for victory over trying to justify myself before God, because I know that's impossible on my own, and I know it's going to be difficult. My pride is yelling at me right now. And that's ok, because I remembered these verses in Hebrews and wanted them to be the honest cry of my heart and to know they are true and to live them!

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 

~Hebrews 12: 9-11~

I'd like to take this time to encourage anyone else struggling through this- because honestly, if you're reading this and it sounds familiar - then you may have been trying to justify yourself before God (and probably others) then these words may sting and be convicting.

But is that not how the pharisee's would have felt as well?

 And so for the sake of their image, power and pride they killed Jesus to have Him and the discipline and conviction that came from listening to Him (and following Him) out of their lives for good (or so they thought). They chose to cut themselves off from God ... And this is why being humble and repentant and loving the Lord's discipline  is the choice one must make because out of it comes righteousness and true peace!