<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Crazy Love Archives - My Rose Colored Shades</title> <atom:link href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/tag/crazy-love/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://myrosecoloredshades.com/tag/crazy-love/</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:46:31 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">68676972</site> <item> <title>Weekly Wisdom: The God of the Universe Knows Us by Name</title> <link>https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/10/16/weekly-wisdom-the-god-of-the-universe-knows-us-by-name/</link> <comments>https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/10/16/weekly-wisdom-the-god-of-the-universe-knows-us-by-name/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[My Rose Colored Shades]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2015 10:30:51 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Faith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Faith & Family]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekly Wisdom]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bible]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bible study]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crazy Love]]></category> <category><![CDATA[God's Word]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Holy Spirit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[intimate God]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jesus Christ]]></category> <category><![CDATA[live by faith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[majesty of God]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Psalm 8:4]]></category> <category><![CDATA[scripture]]></category> <category><![CDATA[words of wisdom]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://myrosecoloredshades.com/?p=8557</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>I’ve been trying to write this post for the past couple of weeks and I find myself at a loss for words every time. Nothing I come up with seems to appropriately convey the magnitude of what I’m trying to … <a class="more-link" href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/10/16/weekly-wisdom-the-god-of-the-universe-knows-us-by-name/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/10/16/weekly-wisdom-the-god-of-the-universe-knows-us-by-name/">Weekly Wisdom: The God of the Universe Knows Us by Name</a> appeared first on <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com">My Rose Colored Shades</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/whatismankind2.jpg"> <span class="pibfi_pinterest "> <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-8559" src="http://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/whatismankind2-1024x931.jpg" alt="Scripture, Psalm 8:4, Bible, God's Word, majesty of God, intimate God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Crazy Love, bible study, words of wisdom, live by faith" width="560" height="509" srcset="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/whatismankind2-1024x931.jpg 1024w, https://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/whatismankind2-300x273.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /> <span class="xc_pin" onclick="pin_this(event, 'http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/10/16/weekly-wisdom-the-god-of-the-universe-knows-us-by-name/&media=http://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/whatismankind2-1024x931.jpg&description=Weekly Wisdom: The God of the Universe Knows Us by Name')"> </span> </span> </a></p> <p>I’ve been trying to write this post for the past couple of weeks and I find myself at a loss for words every time. Nothing I come up with seems to appropriately convey the magnitude of what I’m trying to express. Perhaps I still don’t have a firm grasp of the concept I’m trying to present. Nonetheless, I feel compelled to put it on paper (online) and I hope it helps to remind us of the awesome God we serve.</p> <p>Is it perplexing to you that the God of the universe, the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God, who made the heavens and the earth and all living things, knows you and me by name, knows the number of hairs on our head and is familiar with all of our ways? <span id="more-8557"></span>Do you find yourself in awe of the One who was and is and is to come? Does this realization ever make you stop and think? That is what we are urged to do in the first chapter of <em>Crazy Love</em> by Francis Chan, a book we’re currently using as our church’s home group bible study. I was pleasantly surprised that this theme also came up in the introduction of our <a href="https://www.bsfinternational.org" target="_blank">BSF</a> bible study for this year, which is on the book of Revelation.</p> <p>The idea of a majestic and intimate God presents a dichotomy that my mind can’t seem to fully grasp. As I read Scripture, I realize that it’s not a dichotomy but the reality of who our God is, whose indescribable nature makes me think of David’s words in <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A5-7&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 139:6</a></strong>, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Consider these parallels between His grandness and His closeness to us:</p> <p>When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,… (<strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+8%3A3&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 8:3</a></strong>)</p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: georgia;">For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. (<strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A13&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 139:13</a></strong>)</span></em></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">***</p> <p>The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (<strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+16%3A9&version=NLT" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 16:9</a>, NLT</strong>)</p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><em>You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. (<strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A1&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 139:1</a></strong>)</em></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">***</p> <p>The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. (<strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+19%3A1-2&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 19:1-2</a></strong>)</p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><em>Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. (<strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A4&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 139:4</a></strong>)</em></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">***</p> <p>He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (<strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A17&version=NIV" target="_blank">Colossians 1:17</a></strong>)</p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><em>You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. (<strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A5&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 139:5</a></strong>)</em></span></p> <p>God spoke everything into existence and could rule from afar if He so chose to, but instead He desires to be among His people. There is a reason He is called “Immanuel” or “God is with us.” We were reminded of this truth during our <a href="https://www.bsfinternational.org" target="_blank">BSF</a> bible study. In <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+2%3A1&version=NIV" target="_blank">Revelation 2:1</a></strong> it says, “These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.” God is in control and is sovereign over us but He also walks among us.</p> <p>This is a recurring theme in the Bible. As Moses led the Israelites to the promised land, God instructed them to build a tabernacle with the ark of the covenant so that He may dwell among His people. It says in <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+25%3A8&version=NIV" target="_blank">Exodus 25:8</a></strong>, “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” God then comes to dwell among us in the flesh thru His Son, Jesus Christ, as it is described in <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A14&version=NIV" target="_blank">John 1:14</a></strong>, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” And now we have the gift of God’s presence in the form of the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised in <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A26&version=NIV" target="_blank">John 14:26</a></strong>, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”</p> <p>The truth is mind-boggling. The God who says “Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool,” (<strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+66%3A1&version=NIV" target="_blank">Isaiah 66:1</a></strong>) chooses to have close fellowship with His creation. God made the ultimate sacrifice just so that we would be reconciled with Him and we have done nothing to deserve it. As I stop and think about this truth, I’m left with only one question in my mind and heart, “what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (<strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+8%3A4&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 8:4</a></strong>)</p> <p>Have a blessed weekend!</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/my-rose-colored-shades-10658125" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=10658125" alt="Follow on Bloglovin" width="150" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p><a class="ig-b- ig-b-v-24" href="http://instagram.com/myrosecoloredshades?ref=badge"><img decoding="async" src="https://myrosecoloredshades.com//badges.instagram.com/static/images/ig-badge-view-24.png" alt="Instagram" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Linking up with these lovelies: <a title="Fellowship Fridays Linkup" href="http://christianmommyblogger.com/ff93_swimming/" target="_blank">Fellowship Fridays</a> | <a title="Faith Filled Friday Linkup" href="http://www.missionalwomen.com/faith-filled-friday-blog-link-up" target="_blank">Faith Filled Friday</a> | <a href="http://www.beingconfidentofthis.com/grace-and-truth-link-up/beware-the-influence-grace-and-truth-week-40/" target="_blank">Grace & Truth</a> | <a href="http://mecoffeeandjesus.com/2015/10/not-just-any-calling/">Words with Winter</a> | <a href="http://www.janncobb.com/link-up-october-18-2015/" target="_blank">Reflect</a> | <a href="http://afieldofwildflowers.blogspot.com/2015/10/he-danced-smallwonder-link-up.html" target="_blank">Small Wonder</a> | <a href="http://www.richfaithrising.com/2015/10/where-to-find-break-through-when-the-day-grows-dark.html" target="_blank">Unite</a> | <a href="http://waltzinginbeauty.blogspot.com/2015/10/tuesday-talk-41.html" target="_blank">Tuesday Talk</a> | <a href="http://www.intentionallypursuing.com/2015/10/intentional-tuesday-linkup-week-39/" target="_blank">Intentional Tuesday</a> | <a href="http://purposefulfaith.com/self-destruct-faith/" target="_blank">#RaRaLinkup</a> | <a title="Word Filled Wednesday Linkup" href="http://www.w2wministries.org/2015/10/do-not-grow-weary-in-suffering.html" target="_blank">Word Filled Wednesday</a> | <a title="A Little R & R Linkup" href="http://www.rosilindjukic.com/2015/10/a-little-r-r-wednesdays-a-linky-party-125.html" target="_blank">A Little R & R</a> | <a title="Coffee and Conversation Linkup" href="http://patandcandy.com/coffee-conversation-link-party-64-nanowrimo/" target="_blank">Coffee and Conversation</a> | <a href="http://katherinescorner.com/2015/10/21/thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop-211/" target="_blank">Thursday Favorite Things</a> </span></p> <p>The post <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/10/16/weekly-wisdom-the-god-of-the-universe-knows-us-by-name/">Weekly Wisdom: The God of the Universe Knows Us by Name</a> appeared first on <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com">My Rose Colored Shades</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/10/16/weekly-wisdom-the-god-of-the-universe-knows-us-by-name/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>6</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">8557</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Weekly Wisdom: Am I Living by Faith?</title> <link>https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/26/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-faith/</link> <comments>https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/26/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-faith/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[My Rose Colored Shades]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2015 10:30:58 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Faith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Faith & Family]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekly Wisdom]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2 Corinthians 5:10]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bible]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crazy Love]]></category> <category><![CDATA[deny yourself]]></category> <category><![CDATA[faith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[God]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jesus Christ]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Matthew 10:38-39]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Matthew 6:25-27]]></category> <category><![CDATA[scripture]]></category> <category><![CDATA[the Cross]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://myrosecoloredshades.com/?p=8098</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>We live in a world where we are obsessed with our own safety and comfort and the safety and comfort of our loved ones. The size and luxuries of our homes, the conveniences of current technology, our retirement accounts, they’re … <a class="more-link" href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/26/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-faith/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/26/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-faith/">Weekly Wisdom: Am I Living by Faith?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com">My Rose Colored Shades</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/am_i_living_by_faith.jpg"> <span class="pibfi_pinterest "> <img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-8107" src="http://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/am_i_living_by_faith-1024x683.jpg" alt="God, Jesus Christ, Living by faith, Crazy Love, the Cross, Bible, Scripture" width="560" height="374" srcset="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/am_i_living_by_faith-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/am_i_living_by_faith-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /> <span class="xc_pin" onclick="pin_this(event, 'http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/26/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-faith/&media=http://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/am_i_living_by_faith-1024x683.jpg&description=Weekly Wisdom: Am I Living by Faith')"> </span> </span> </a></p> <p>We live in a world where we are obsessed with our own safety and comfort and the safety and comfort of our loved ones. The size and luxuries of our homes, the conveniences of current technology, our retirement accounts, they’re all about our safety and comfort in the present and in the future. I am the first to admit that when I pray, I pray for the safety and comfort of my family and friends. I pray the same for myself. We all work hard and save as much as we can in order that we can have a safe, secure and comfortable future until we die. We do our best to try to avoid any kind of discomfort or inconvenience as much as we possibly can.<span id="more-8098"></span></p> <p>I remember making fun of my mom for being a scaredy-cat when it came to taking risks in life. She would always discourage me from doing anything remotely risky or dangerous. She mentioned once she would not want me to live in California because of the earthquakes. She would constantly worry about our family’s safety, which is totally natural for a mom. I would judge my mom and give her my fatalistic attitude of whatever is going to happen is going to happen no matter what. I would also give her the old “ye of little faith” attitude from time to time. What’s ironic is that I found myself having the same fears as my mom’s when it came to my own children. I just wanted to protect them from anything and everything that would threaten their safety in any way or bring any hint of discomfort to them.</p> <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Life is not about me AT ALL. Not even one bit. </strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>It’s ALL ABOUT GOD…</strong></span></p> <hr /> <p>God has been working on my heart in many ways and one of the things that he’s been slowly changing is my outlook on life. After reading <em><a href="http://crazylovebook.com" target="_blank">Crazy Love</a></em> by Francis Chan, I realized that I was missing the point in a really bad way. Life is not about me AT ALL. Not even one bit. It’s ALL ABOUT GOD and His sovereign plan to reconcile all of us to Him. We are not here on this earth to satisfy the desires of our hearts, live a comfortable life with our nice little families in our nice white picket fence homes and then die and go to heaven where even better treasures await us. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be. We will one day have to give our creator and judge an account of our lives. It says in <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A1-10&version=NIV" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:10</a></strong>, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”</p> <p>We declare with our lips that we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and yet we live as if there is no God, or at least as if God is not sufficient in providing for our needs. We are so busy building and securing a life for ourselves that we leave no room for a life that is lived by faith and trust in our provider and sovereign Lord. And yet in <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A25-34&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 6:25-27</a></strong>, it says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”</p> <p>God is our sole source of life and provider of all of our needs. Nothing I have is my own. It’s all God’s. As it says in <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1%3A21&version=NIV" target="_blank">Job 1:21</a></strong>, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” God can give and just as easily take away. It is His right. It makes me think of several occasions when my daughter would place an object in the palm of her hand, make a fist and squeeze it as tight as she possibly could. She would then ask me to try to take the object away from her. I would just humor her and pretend I was having a hard time prying her little fingers open knowing all along that it would take me less than 2 seconds to take that object away from her. For one, I could simply tickle her and she would be done. We are the same way with God. We hold tight to our possessions and our lives and forget that God can take it all away with the blink of an eye.</p> <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">…when I’m seated in that judgment seat, will I be able to face God </span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and sincerely say that I did my best for Him.</span></strong></p> <hr /> <p>It’s not that God does not wish for us to have a good life with our family in a comfortable home. He’s asking us to keep our priorities straight. If you keep reading <strong>Matthew 6</strong>, it says in <strong><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A25-34&version=NIV" target="_blank">verse 33</a></strong>, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” We are to love Him first and live for Him because “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (<strong><a href="http://2 Corinthians 5:11-21" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:14-15</a></strong>). And if this compelling love is in us, it should be natural that we are motivated by the desire to please God over satisfying the desires of our hearts, compassion over comfort, and eternal treasures over earthly treasures.</p> <p>When I think of my life, I can’t help but wonder if when I’m seated in that judgment seat, will I be able to face God and sincerely say that I did my best for Him. Will I even be able to face Him at all? All I know is that it’s not too late for me to start living by faith, in complete surrender to His will. My heart yearns to live a life of true obedience to the Cross. The words in <strong><a href="http://Matthew 10:37-39" target="_blank">Matthew 10:37-39</a></strong> ring true now more than ever, “<span id="en-NIV-23455" class="text Matt-10-37"><span class="woj">Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.</span></span> <span id="en-NIV-23456" class="text Matt-10-38"><span class="woj">Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.</span></span> <span id="en-NIV-23457" class="text Matt-10-39"><span class="woj">Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.</span></span>” Only then, can I hope to hear these words from my master, “Job well done my good and faithful servant.”</p> <p>Have a blessed rest of the week!</p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Also check out Part 1 of my thoughts and learnings from <em>Crazy Love</em> in my last post, <a href="http://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/20/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-the-spirit/" target="_blank">Am I Living by the Spirit?</a></span></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/my-rose-colored-shades-10658125" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=10658125" alt="Follow on Bloglovin" width="150" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a class="ig-b- ig-b-v-24" href="http://instagram.com/myrosecoloredshades?ref=badge"><img decoding="async" src="https://myrosecoloredshades.com//badges.instagram.com/static/images/ig-badge-view-24.png" alt="Instagram" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Linking up with these lovelies: <a href="http://mecoffeeandjesus.com/2015/08/decrease-self-doubt-increase-jesus/" target="_blank">Words with Winter</a> | <a href="http://purposefulfaith.com/finding-god/" target="_blank">Purposeful Faith</a> | <a href="http://www.richfaithrising.com/2015/08/meet-the-batwa-an-urgent-cry-to-awaken-and-see-unite-link-party.html" target="_blank">Unite</a> | <a title="Word Filled Wednesday Linkup" href="http://www.w2wministries.org/2015/08/what-legacy-are-you-leaving.html" target="_blank">Word Filled Wednesday</a> | <a title="A Little R & R Linkup" href="http://www.rosilindjukic.com/2015/08/comprehensive-homeschool-bible-curriculum.html" target="_blank">A Little R & R</a> | <a title="Coffee and Conversation Linkup" href="http://momsmorningcoffee.com/coffee-and-conversation-link-party-56/" target="_blank">Coffee and Conversation</a> | <a href="http://all-thats-jas.com/2015/08/thursday-favorite-things-203.html" target="_blank">Thursday Favorite Things</a> | <a title="SHINE Blog Hop" href="http://thedeliberatemom.com/shine-blog-hop-61/" target="_blank">SHINE</a> | <a href="http://3dlessons4life.com/the-greatest-romance/" target="_blank">Thought Provoking Thursday</a> | <a href="http://forfunreadinglist.blogspot.com/2015/08/cozy-reading-spot-106.html" target="_blank">Cozy Reading Spot</a> | <a title="Fellowship Fridays Linkup" href="http://christianmommyblogger.com/ff86_joy/" target="_blank">Fellowship Fridays</a> | <a title="Faith Filled Friday Linkup" href="http://www.missionalwomen.com/faith-filled-friday-blog-link-up/faith-filled-friday39" target="_blank">Faith Filled Friday</a> | <a href="http://arabahjoy.com/the-last-time/" target="_blank">Grace & Truth</a><br /> </span></p> <p>The post <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/26/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-faith/">Weekly Wisdom: Am I Living by Faith?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com">My Rose Colored Shades</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/26/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-faith/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>13</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">8098</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Weekly Wisdom: Am I Living by the Spirit?</title> <link>https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/20/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-the-spirit/</link> <comments>https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/20/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-the-spirit/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[My Rose Colored Shades]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2015 10:30:28 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Faith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Faith & Family]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Weekly Wisdom]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bible]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crazy Love]]></category> <category><![CDATA[faith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Francis Chan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fruit of the Spirit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Galatians 5]]></category> <category><![CDATA[God]]></category> <category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jesus Christ]]></category> <category><![CDATA[lukewarm Christian]]></category> <category><![CDATA[scripture]]></category> <category><![CDATA[words of wisdom]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://myrosecoloredshades.com/?p=8039</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>I just finished reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and it was altogether eye-opening, challenging and convicting. His description of a lukewarm Christian and those that are Christ-obsessed really pushed me to do an introspective examination as well as evaluate … <a class="more-link" href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/20/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-the-spirit/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/20/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-the-spirit/">Weekly Wisdom: Am I Living by the Spirit?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com">My Rose Colored Shades</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/lifebythespirit.jpg"> <span class="pibfi_pinterest "> <img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-8044" src="http://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/lifebythespirit-1024x769.jpg" alt="faith, God, Jesus Christ, Bible, Scripture, Fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5, Crazy Love, Francis Chan, lukewarm Christian, words of wisdom, inspiration" width="560" height="421" srcset="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/lifebythespirit-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/lifebythespirit-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /> <span class="xc_pin" onclick="pin_this(event, 'http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/20/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-the-spirit/&media=http://myrosecoloredshades.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/lifebythespirit-1024x769.jpg&description=Weekly Wisdom: Am I Living by the Spirit')"> </span> </span> </a></p> <p>I just finished reading <em><a href="http://crazylovebook.com" target="_blank">Crazy Love</a></em> by Francis Chan and it was altogether eye-opening, challenging and convicting. His description of a lukewarm Christian and those that are Christ-obsessed really pushed me to do an introspective examination as well as evaluate how I’m living my life here on earth in light of eternity. Chan states that “the life of a lukewarm Christian wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God.” And if I were to be completely honest with myself, aside from not going to church every Sunday and reading the Bible on a regular basis, not much else would change if I stopped believing in God. He really pushed me to evaluate all aspects of my life, and imagine how different it would look if I surrendered each and every part to God in order to live a life that is truly obedient to the Cross.<span id="more-8039"></span></p> <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>I had to assess whether the fruit of the Spirit was being manifested </strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>in my attitude, in my communication with others, in my relationships </strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>with loved ones as well as my interactions with strangers.</strong></span></p> <hr /> <p>The question, of whether my life would look any different if I stopped believing, moved me to first look inwards and examine my heart and what it was producing. I asked myself whether I was living by the Spirit and producing fruit that can only come from the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5&version=NIV" target="_blank">Galatians 5:22-23</a>). I had to assess whether the fruit of the Spirit was being manifested in my attitude, in my communication with others, in my relationships with loved ones as well as my interactions with strangers.</p> <p>Am I living by the Spirit? Do I exercise patience with my loved ones? Do I display gentleness and self-control when rebuking my children? How is my tone of voice when I communicate with others? Do I always treat others with kindness? Do I exude joy? I think these are questions that we need to ask ourselves on a regular basis and surrender every one of them to God, especially those areas in which we are weak.</p> <p>In light of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A31-46&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 25:31-46</a>, Chan challenges us to think of how our lives would change if we actually thought of every person we come into contact with as Christ. He mentions “the person driving painfully slow in front of me, the checker at the grocery store who seems more interested in chatting than ringing up my items, the member of my own family with whom I can’t seem to have a conversation and not get annoyed.” I seriously felt like he was speaking directly to me. Let’s say these are my areas of weakness, and my attitude in these situations has been far from commendable, or even downright disobedient to the Spirit. I have a funny feeling that God always puts me behind a slow car when I’m driving. Coincidence? I think not.</p> <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">…we need to live by the Spirit, </span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">be led by the Spirit and </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">keep in step with the Spirit. </span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It’s a continuous process of daily surrender to </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">God’s will </span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and letting the Spirit lead the way in the path of righteousness.</span></strong></p> <hr /> <p>The biggest challenge yet is posed when Chan talks about love, of which Paul says in Galatians 5:6, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Chan reminds us that we are to love not only those that are lovable and can reciprocate our love, but we are also commanded to love our enemies and do good to them. This means that if someone hurts us, we don’t retaliate as the world would, but we forgive them and love them back instead. According to Chan, lukewarm Christians love those who are easy to love, those who love them back, like family, friends, and others they connect with. But he reminds us of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A27-36&version=NIV" target="_blank">Luke 6:32</a>, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.” God commands us to love without expecting anything in return.</p> <p>I realize that I cannot will myself to produce the fruit of the Spirit. Only the Spirit can produce its fruit in me. As it is emphasized in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5&version=NIV" target="_blank">Galatians 5</a>, we need to live by the Spirit, be led by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit. It’s a continuous process of daily surrender to God’s will and letting the Spirit lead the way in the path of righteousness. It says in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A5&version=NIV" target="_blank">Galatians 5:5</a> “For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.”</p> <p>Have a blessed rest of the week!</p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I will be sharing how <em>Crazy Love</em> has challenged my outlook on life in my next Weekly Wisdom post.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/my-rose-colored-shades-10658125" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=10658125" alt="Follow on Bloglovin" width="150" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a class="ig-b- ig-b-v-24" href="http://instagram.com/myrosecoloredshades?ref=badge"><img decoding="async" src="https://myrosecoloredshades.com//badges.instagram.com/static/images/ig-badge-view-24.png" alt="Instagram" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Linking up with these lovelies: <a href="http://mecoffeeandjesus.com/2015/08/why-i-chose-to-be-pro-choice/" target="_blank">Words with Winter</a> | <a title="Word Filled Wednesday Linkup" href="http://www.w2wministries.org/2015/08/will-you-abandon-it-all-for-sake-of.html" target="_blank">Word Filled Wednesday</a> | <a title="A Little R & R Linkup" href="http://www.rosilindjukic.com/2015/08/a-little-r-r-wednesdays-a-linky-party-116.html" target="_blank">A Little R & R</a> | <a title="Coffee and Conversation Linkup" href="http://momsmorningcoffee.com/coffee-and-conversation-link-party-54/" target="_blank">Coffee and Conversation</a> | <a href="http://katherinescorner.com/2015/08/19/thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop-202/" target="_blank">Thursday Favorite Things</a> | <a title="SHINE Blog Hop" href="http://thedeliberatemom.com/shine-blog-hop-61/" target="_blank">SHINE</a> | <a href="http://3dlessons4life.com/but-god/" target="_blank">Thought Provoking Thursday</a> | <a href="http://forfunreadinglist.blogspot.com/2015/08/cozy-reading-spot-106.html" target="_blank">Cozy Reading Spot</a> | <a title="Fellowship Fridays Linkup" href="http://christianmommyblogger.com/ff85_blessing/" target="_blank">Fellowship Fridays</a> | <a title="Faith Filled Friday Linkup" href="http://www.missionalwomen.com/faith-filled-friday-blog-link-up/faith-filled-friday38" target="_blank">Faith Filled Friday</a> | <a title="Faith & Fellowship" href="http://www.simplemomentsstick.com/2015/08/faith-and-fellowship-blog-hop_21.html" target="_blank">Faith & Fellowship</a> | <a href="http://thebrowntribe.net/2015/08/being-grateful-and-grace-truth/" target="_blank">Grace & Truth</a> | <a href="http://purposefulfaith.com/finding-god/" target="_blank">Purposeful Faith</a></span></p> <p>The post <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/20/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-the-spirit/">Weekly Wisdom: Am I Living by the Spirit?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://myrosecoloredshades.com">My Rose Colored Shades</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://myrosecoloredshades.com/2015/08/20/weekly-wisdom-am-i-living-by-the-spirit/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>6</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">8039</post-id> </item> </channel> </rss>