One Thing Remains

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Some days don’t end the way you want them to. You try not to lose your patience, but rather than being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, you tune people out, interrupt, and yell back. Everyday we fall short of God’s glory, but His grace is never-ending. One thing will ALWAYS remain – His love. It never fails, it never gives up, and it never runs out me, you, or anyone else! God constantly amazes me with how He decides to speak. Today He reminded me His love is constant, just when I needed to hear it. Praise God!

Higher than the mountains that I faceStronger than the power of the grave

Constant through the trial and the change

One thing remainsOne thing remains

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me

On and one and on and on it goes

It overwhelms and satisfies my soul

And I never ever have to be afraid

One thing remains

In death and in life I’m confident and covered by the power of your great love

My debt is paid there’s nothing that can separate my heart from your great love

Pain is Temporary, Eternity is FOREVER!

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“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” -James 1:2-4

Jump-training. We have a love/hate relationship. I despise it in the moment, but I love the results that come from the pain of jumping what seems to be a million times over the course of six weeks. In the end, the 45-minute jump workout, three times a week, gets me in tip top form for volleyball season. The pain is temporary, but the results get me through the entire season.

During the first day of jump-training it hit me that I also have a love/hate relationship with spiritual trials. If I’m honest, in the moment I despise the trial. The stretching is painful, filled with tears, and often results in change. It often reveals and makes me admit my biggest flaws and deepest fears. Who really wants to lay down their pride and admit their failures? Not this girl!

As Christ followers, these trials are necessary and during them we are called to be different. As seen in James, we are called to be joyful during trying seasons because we know we are maturing in our faith so that one day (in Heaven) we will reach perfection. Sometimes, this is a tough pill to swallow, but we find strength in knowing our joy isn’t found in our trying circumstances. Our joy comes for our Christ. Looking back on the trials I’ve faced and overcome with the help of Christ, I’ve matured greatly to who I am today. There is still a lot of maturing left, but I can approach whatever trials that are to come knowing that pain is temporary, eternity is forever!

Don’t get lost in your circumstances, get lost in the love of your Savior who died so you could live!

Grace and Peace,

Meredith

The Man of My Dreams!

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I bet y’all thought I was going to be blogging about falling madly in love with a Frenchman. Unless Jesus was from Angers rather than Galilee, I fooled ya! 🙂

Sometimes it is nice to be reminded how dearly loved you are. I am so thankful for Jesus and the cross!

 

Let Freedom Ring

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To say this week was easy would be a flat out lie. I have a heart for FCA and their summer camps that impact so many lives for the Kingdom and secured my eternity with God eight years ago. This week camp was held in Abilene, Texas while I’m 5,000+ miles away in France studying abroad. As pictures were posted and statuses were updated throughout the week I wanted to be in the heart of Texas serving along side my brothers and sisters instead of in France (some people think I’m crazy, that’s okay with me!). As I was explaining my emotions to one of my best friends who served in Abilene this week, she brought me back to reality and how God was working in me despite being so far away. As I told her the high points of my week she revealed to me God’s handiwork that I was blind to.

If I hadn’t been here, I wouldn’t have gotten to explain the difference between practicing religion and having a relationship with God in class. I wouldn’t have gotten to challenge God through prayer to move mightily at camp and hear about my answered prayers and the fruits of the week in a two hour Skype call. I wouldn’t have gotten to spend an hour at the United States Cemetery at Omaha Beach where this week 68 years ago so many lives where lost in a battle for freedom. If I weren’t here this week I wouldn’t have seen the clouds part during the National Anthem as God broke the chains enslaving my heart to a law that condemns to remind me of freedom found in a faith that saves. Let me explain.

The past few months I have fallen into the dungeons of legalism and self-righteousness.  Rather than reflecting on the state of my own heart, I’ve been focused on everyone else’s flaws and have tried to earn my own salvation by following rules – a terrible combination. Fortunately, we have a Father who never stops pursuing us even when we fall off the rails for a season and He’s placed me back on the tracks through the book of Galatians. In a nut shell (please read Galatians ASAP!), the churches of Galatia heard and responded to the Gospel when Paul shared with them the Good News of Jesus Christ.  After Paul left, religious leaders told the Galatians they needed to abide by certain religious customs and laws to earn salvation. As humans, the Galatians, like so many of us, retreated from the Gospel of Christ Paul shared and found themselves entangled in religious laws rather than drowning in the grace that sets them free. They returned to a false gospel that told them it was Jesus plus good works that saves rather than Christ alone.

“…yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.” -Galatians 2:16

So how does this correlate to my experience at the cemetery?

Freedom is often a result of a sacrifice given out of love. The American soldiers who stormed Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 were fighting for our freedom against an enemy that sought to enslave us. They fought and many died because they loved our country and wanted to preserve our freedom. D-Day was a turning point in World War II.  Had the mission failed we would have taken a huge blow and had to regroup to try attacking again in a couple years.  Had it failed you may not be sitting in the comfort of your living room or on your cell phone reading this post.  Had it failed, life as we know it could be one of bondage.

I repeat, freedom is often a result of a sacrifice given out of love. Jesus Christ sacrificed himself on a cross over 2,000 years ago to end the battle against an enemy that sought to enslave us. Christ died to liberate us from a condemning law that we cannot follow as hard as we try. On our best days, we fall short. The cross was a turning point and Christ’s mission to free us from our bondage couldn’t fail. Why? Because God had already promised Abraham 400+ years before the law existed that Abraham and his offspring are counted righteous through faith alone (Galatians 3:6-7). When God makes a promise He keeps it. He kept it at the cross.

Today in the cemetery, as the National Anthem rang through the speakers, God broke through the chains and set me free. The clouds opened to reveal the sun and the weight of the cross and my inheritance as a daughter of the Most High sank in like it was the first time all over again. The law condemns, Christ saves. What a beautiful God. What an amazing grace.

My challenge: Stop trying to earn grace. You can’t, it’s freely given. Instead, humble yourself to the cross and let freedom ring.

-Meredith

“Christ has liberated us into freedom. Therefore stand firm and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.” -Galatians 5:1

A Notebook Kind of Love

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“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” -1 John 4:9-10

For those of you who’ve stuck with me since the beginning of Dearly Loved, in my first post I made it pretty clear I’m a hopeless romantic. Six months later that still hasn’t changed! I’m studying abroad in Angers, France for the next six weeks and every time I go to the farmers market I can’t take my eyes of the beautiful assortment of flowers. They are absolutely breathtaking! God completely amazes me with the spectacular creations he has made for our enjoyment that we by no means deserve. Lord willing I will one day be married to someone who most importantly leads me closer to the cross and occasionally brings me a bouquet of flowers – hint, hint 😉

 Loving chick-flicks is obviously a character trait of a hopeless romantic, and I am no exception. In my book, one of the ultimate chick-flicks is The Notebook based on a book by Nicolas Sparks…you bet I’ve read every one of his books and seen the movies! I was the girl during high school English class crying a river while finishing another one of his tear jerking novels. No judging please 🙂

As I was relaxing in my apartment at the end of another merciful day in Angers a few days ago, I popped The Notebook into my laptop to watch it for what seemed to be the millionth time.  A few months ago I played it in the background while I was getting dressed to go two-stepping with some of my buddies and some of the famous quotes took a new form. Rather than coming from the mouth of Noah, one of the main characters, they came from our Heavenly Father.  At the time I noticed it, but in the hustle and bustle of life I let the words pass without much regard.  The other night that changed as I actually slowed down – a rare occurrence – to watch the movie.  Below I have taken the quotes verbatim from the movie and adapted them to the words God spoke to me.

The Notebook: “I wrote you 365 letters. I wrote you everyday for a year.”

God: “I wrote you 66 letters proclaiming my love for you. I wrote you everyday for thousands of years.”

The Notebook: “You wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t something missing.”

God: “I’ve shaped your heart with a hole I fit perfectly. You wouldn’t be at My feet if there wasn’t Something missing, if there wasn’t Something you were searching for.”

The Notebook: “So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s going to be really hard; we’re gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me… everyday.“

God: “Following me isn’t going to be easy. It’s going to be hard. Look at those who have followed me before you. Just as they were persecuted, you will be too. You’re going to have to work on our relationship everyday. I’m willing to patiently wait for you because I love you to the point of sending my Son to die in your place. I want you, My beloved, all of you forever. You and Me… everyday.”

The Notebook: “The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that’s what you’ve given me. That’s what I’d hoped to give you forever.”

God: “The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.  And that’s what I’ve given you. I’ve given you the cross to set ablaze a burning passion to share my love and given you peace in knowing that I hold your life in my hands. These truths are what I hope you find joy in forever. The choice to accept my love is yours.”

God is love perfected. He offers the notebook kind of love so many of us desire and He wants us to find fulness of joy in it. He desires us to be content in Him alone and has given us 66 letters to court us into falling in love with Him. The Bible is proof that you are His bride. He wants you, all of you… forever.

Rest in the warm embrace of a groom more perfect than you could ever imagine.

-Meredith

“Though the mountains move and the hills shake, My love will not be removed from you and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says your compassionate Lord.” -Isaiah 54:10

 

Master the Cross

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“You don’t have to know a lot of things for your life to make a lasting difference in the world. But you do have to know the few great things that matter, perhaps just ONE, and then be willing to live for them and die for them. The people that make a durable difference in the world are not the people who have mastered many things, but who have been mastered by ONE great thing. If you want your life to count, if you want to ripple effect of the pebbles you drop to become waves that reach the ends of the earth and roll on into eternity, you don’t need a high IQ. You don’t have to have good looks or riches or come from a fine family or a fine school. Instead you have to know a few great, majestic, unchanging, obvious, simple, glorious things – or ONE great all-embracing thing – and be set on fire by them.” –John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life

Don’t waste your life. Be set on fire. Master ONE thing. Master knowing the cross. Master dying to live.

P.S. The above picture is in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. How legit is that?!

The Battle

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Ever feel like there is a constant battle raging inside your body? Like at any moment you could be ripped in half by the sides constantly pulling your arms in a tug-a-war for your attention?

This tug-a-war has been going on for the last few weeks of my life as I constantly feel the desires of the Spirit pulling against the desires of the flesh. On one shoulder I hear God saying “spend time with Me my beloved,” and in the other I hear the flesh seducing me towards Facebook, Twitter, movies, and other earthly things.  When I weigh the options in my mind God is so much more appealing, but I often find myself putting Him off to spend a few more minutes looking at pictures on Facebook and keeping up with my Tweeps.  It sounds silly, but the flesh has amped up its tug the last four days. I’m studying abroad in Angers, France for the next seven weeks. While I know it is going to be an incredible time for my relationship with Christ to grow, I’m also far away from home living on a schedule that is seven hours ahead of all my loved ones. It seems that social media is going to be the only way to stay in contact with those who mean the most to me and is also my worst enemy coaxing me away from the most important and loving relationship I will ever known.

In Galatians, Paul tells us this battle will constantly rage:

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. -Galatians 5:16-17

In the words of Tyler David at the Austin Stone Community Church, we must “Live in the Tension.”  There’s going to be a battle, but as Christians we have Christ walking with us the whole way.  We have a Savior that has been through the tension and conquered it without faltering.  My personal challenge is to choose the Spirit. In moments where I know the Spirit is calling me to dive into the Truth and live out its call to the fullest, I’m not going to submit to the flesh.

Much love,

Meredith

For more about “Living in the Tension” check out Tyler David’s sermon here. It is super great for anyone going through a battle between the Spirit and the flesh!

Storm Warning

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To say the least, this year has not gone how I expected. When I moved back to Austin for the fall semester, I was on a mountain top with high hopes for the upcoming school year.  I’d been playing the best volleyball of my life and was surrounded by people that were encouraging my spiritual growth.  I quickly descended into the valley after landing on my setter’s foot in an extra practice session called by some of the team.  A second degree high ankle sprain that threatened to keep me off the court for six weeks was the first of many trials I’d face as the year progressed.

 

Last night I found myself laying in bed talking to God about the past 10 months.  I told Him about all the big plans I’d had for the year and He responded with Jeremiah 29:11.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

The problem with my plans are in their very foundation. They were MY plans and not God’s – they were destined to fail from the get-go!  Despite the court time I lost in volleyball and all the trials I’ve faced since, I know God has something greater than I can fathom in store for my life.  I just have to take a backseat and let Him take the leading role in my life.  I need to master playing the background.

The past week Austin has been the target of mother nature’s fury (I’d like to take a moment to thank her for all the free car washes – I’m saving money with every rain drop!).  I’ve been woken up many times to the sound of thunder and car alarms set off by close lightening strikes.  In the midst of the dodging rain drops, I’ve realized our lives sometimes mirror that of a storm.  The storm hits hard and then the eye passes over offering a glimpse of peace before the end comes barreling through.  The aftermath is destruction, but there is always reconstruction.  The beauty of a storm, as well as the beauty of the sinless blood shed at the cross, is found in the reconstruction.  Just as a storm washes away the old for reconstruction, the blood of Christ washes away our sins and revives us from our sins.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” -Titus 3:4-7

I’m a fan of pinterest and in a moment of procrastination during finals week I stumbled upon the following quote:

If there is anything I can take from my experiences this year it is that once again God has proven His plan is way better than my own (sometimes I need to be knocked in the head a few times before I learn my lesson).  The moment I found myself lying on the gym floor crying my eyes out with an ankle that refused to bear my weight, I entered the valley and had no idea what the Big Man upstairs was up to.  I know in my heart of hearts I was playing for Him. Volleyball wasn’t my idol, yet for some reason starting in our first match wasn’t apart of His plan for me.  As my coaches and teammates checked in on me in the training room I constantly asked God “Why? Why me, again?” I thought I had learned my lesson the year before when my idolization of volleyball was struck down by a strained abdomen that kept me off the court for two weeks.  As Philip Yancey so eloquently put it, “faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” I stopped questioning God and started trusting Him.  At the end of the season God answered my “why”. No, I didn’t get the starting position I desired right after I recovered (praise Jesus for His healing hand – He cut my recovery in half and I found myself practicing a mere three weeks later!). My playing time was scattered, but I was blessed to play a part in my team’s appearance in the NCAA Regional Tournament for the first time in six years.  Despite losing in the first round in 5 sets by two points, it was the experience of a lifetime I got to share with a team and coaching staff I love more than words can describe.  To top it off, in January eight of my teammates attended Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ annual College Advance.  If that would have happened had I not taken that fall I will never know, but it turns out that nasty ankle was a blessing in disguise and His plan made perfect since in REVERSE!

At this moment in life, the storm has passed, there is mass destruction, but I serve a Lord that promises reconstruction.

If you’re going through a storm, weather it knowing good things are waiting in the reconstruction!

Much love,

Meredith

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” -Romans 8:28

Tunnel Vision

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Tunnel vision by definition (yep – about to go Webster on ya! I’m a nerd at heart) is the loss of peripheral vision with retention of central vision, resulting in a constricted circular tunnel-like field of vision. When I think about tunnel vision it brings back childhood memories of family skiing vacations to Colorado when we would drive through the mountains in route to our next tourist stop. Everything but the light at the end of the tunnel blacked out and when we resurfaced into the daylight, I was in awe of the beauty revealed on the other side of the tunnel.

A few weeks ago, I co-led a Bible study about Mary and Martha.  Both sisters were intimate friends with Christ and often housed Him and the 12 disciples when they were passing through Bethany on their way to Jerusalem. Although they shared the same bloodline and both loved Christ, their relationships with Him varied greatly.  In the scene played out in Luke 10, Martha is running around like a chicken with its head cut off preparing their home and serving Jesus and the disciples while Mary simply sits as Jesus’ feet.  A frustrated Martha, being the more vocal of the sisters, asks Jesus if He even cares that Mary has left all the household duties on her shoulders.  Upon initial reading, you may think that it is unfair and rude of Mary to leave the dishes for her sister to tend to, but in Luke 10:41-42 Jesus responds to Martha’s question by saying “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken from her.” Martha’s vision hadn’t been impaired by the presence of Jesus, but Mary’s had.  Mary had tunnel vision set on Christ alone.  While Martha thought Mary should be condemned for not helping her with the worldly tasks of preparing her home for Jesus, Jesus in turn praises Mary for sitting and listening to Him rather than focusing on what the world says she should take care of.

Through diving into Martha and Mary’s story, I realized I was a Modern Day Martha running around like a mad woman worrying about the next paper, exam, or presentation written down on my schedule. Although earning my degree will eventually help me grow the Kingdom in my chosen career, the most important thing I can do with my life is simply be still and listen.  In the hustle and bustle that coincides with the end of the semester (For my football fans – I like to refer to it as the fourth quarter) I simply wasn’t sitting at the feet of Christ absorbing what He wanted me to hear.

Our walk with Christ should mirror the tunnels cutting through the Colorado mountains and the life of Mary who took a breather to sit at the feet of Jesus and eagerly listened to every word He said.  Although there are worldly things that attempt to block our paths, we must keep our sights set on the light at the end of the tunnel.  Everything else should fade away in comparison to the Son lighting our way. Our vision should essentially be impaired by the awe of God’s grace and the love of Jesus Christ.

Grab your Bible, take a seat, and listen to our loving Savior,

Meredith

“I pursue as my gold the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:14

Be Bold.

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“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” -2 Timothy 1:7

 Recently, God’s been teaching me to be better, to be bold.  I’ve been the girl who is afraid to step on peoples toes and stand up for what I know is right when it might lead to disagreements.  I’ve had a fearful and timid spirit and am taking baby steps  (sometimes I think my steps are more of a crawl, but none the less, I’m moving forward!) towards a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:7.  One of my first steps has been using my platform and God-given talents as a journalist to write a sports commentary in Hilltop Views, my university’s campus newspaper.

Click here to read about amazing athletes who proclaim their faith and live up to the Christian calling: http://bit.ly/JDfl3c

Be better. Be bold.

-Meredith