Building Blocks, we all had them as kids, we know what they are, and we know how they work - or should work. Hopefully most of us have been raised with a core set of blocks, good ones based on good values, right living and love. But not everyone gets that. As a matter of fact, sadly, there are probably more people who did not get those good life lessons (Building Blocks) and still stumble through the world looking for happiness, hope and love...usually in destructive and unfulfilling ways.
Good, solid Building Blocks are things that build integrity, character, righteous living, giving, responsible behavior, love without all the baggage, friendships everlasting and a myriad of other characteristics that teach people how to be successful not just in life, but in society. Sometimes, at a young age, those blocks are knocked down, taken away, or destroyed and crumble leaving gaps and holes where a foundation should be. And we all need a good foundation. Without it -we might as well be living in a house of cards.
Jesus was the cornerstone - IS the cornerstone of the Christian Faith. In no other faith or religion do you find LOVE as the basis or consistent theme/message to the believer. All other faiths are about what we can do to get into nirvana, heaven, the afterlife or whatever you believe. Only in Christianity is it NOT ABOUT US. Now that is what I call a foundation. I can do nothing in my own strength but I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. I can do no good deed good enough that earns me a place inside the pearly gates...nothing, nada! All the good works in the world mean nothing.
So, as I sat in church yesterday and I looked up at the banner above me, at the depth of what those words represent for me, for us and what my Pastor and church stand for, I was brought to my knees once more...reminded that God is in control. That everything I do, we do, can and will bring glory to God - we just might not always see it. And as Don spoke of our thoughts and how they can make or break us; how imperative it is that we rely on the building blocks of our Faith and the promise that screams at us throughout the bible, to keep us from being held captive by our very thoughts, I looked up and read those words and today I want to share them with you.
Building People for the Glory of God! (this is a link to their site)
WOW WOW WOW - what a message of hope, of righteousness, integrity, promise, of faith and of LOVE.
Today I want to thank The Way Home Church, not just today but from 10 years ago, 8 years ago, 5 years ago and for all the years to come. Committed to bringing the word to life in the heart of the believer; committed to building the sheep for His glory through truth and faithfulness, they are impacting the Kingdom of Heaven for eternity. I walked in to this small body of believers and had no blocks. At least not the kind of blocks that build a strong foundation.
Today, as I prepare to go out and serve Breiter Futures Foundation (BFF International) and share the message of Faith, Hope and Love in all endeavors of the future, I go with a foundation in Christ that was built using blocks that will not crumble even though I might; they will not fail when I do; they will not fade when I am weary; and they will still be strong when I am weak. As He rebuilds my foundation over and over again, always to draw me closer to God and building something that is beyond me, not about me, but ABOUT HIM.
Thank you Celebration Fellowship, Thank you The Way Home....because of your faithfulness, foundations are being built with Building Blocks of Hope, Faith and Love.
To all - I am in the ripple you created, as are soooo many others we don't even know about.
love you so very much,
marebear
2 comments:
Marebear,
I have not known you very long, but I gather that you have been through a warfare. I know very well how in that time of battle, you feel as if you're in the midst of the firey furnace. The amazing thing is when we are delivered out and truly turn to God and put our faith in Him, we come out SMOKE FREE. PraiseGod for that. I'm meeting you and getting to know you on the victory side of the battle, and I see a beautiful woman who knows and loves God. Keep up the faith and keep going forth in the things God has called you for.
You spoke of the love of God. One thing you and I recognize is there is so much more than a superficial knowledge that God loves us. In Ephesians, chapter 3, Paul prayed that the Ephesians would get a greater revelation of God's love for them. He said, "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:14-19).
Notice in verse 18 that God's love isn't just one-dimensional. There is height, depth, length, and breadth to it. Many Christians only see God's love as they would see a painting, in one-dimension. They've never seen the multi-dimensional reality of God's love.
In verse 19, Paul said as we experience God's love, which is superior to mere knowledge of God's love, then we would be filled with all the fullness of God. What a statement! I have found that anytime I'm lacking in any area of my life, then I am lacking in a revelation of God's love. Experiencing God's love equals fullness.
I've said all of this to say that a deep revelation of God's love for us is the most important thing we can receive. Here's a scripture you'll like. 1st Cor.13:13 says, "And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (God's kind of love).
There are many ways that Satan uses to try to block the revelation of God's love for us. One of the most subtle, and therefore the most deadly, ways is that he has deceived us into thinking that God's love for us is tied to our performance. In the natural world, you get what you deserve. Employers don't hire you based on their love for you. You have to perform. If you perform badly, you are punished or fired. The same thing is true in most relationships, therefore, we think we have to do something to earn God's love. However, the nearly-too-good-to-be-true news of the Gospel is that we don't get what we deserve. I personally shout a loud THANK YOU JESUS, That is not what the Bible teaches.
God's love for us is unconditional. That is, God doesn't love us because of some virtue we possess. God loves us because "God is love" (1 John 4:8), not because we are lovely.
Thanks for sharing your blog with me. You're a blessing and I hope to see you tonight at WOW!
Donna
Dear Donna:
I will be at WOW tonight, but don't have time right this moment to respond to this wonderful comment. You bless me enormously with all that you are in Christ and I cannot express in words, what that means to me as begin this journey. I will write more later. I love you!
marebear
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