Showing posts with label satisfaction. Show all posts

When you think of God, do you think of His infinite joy, and the delight he takes in his good creation, including you? 

 I'm slowly reading through Dallas Willard's The Divine Conspiracy.** You'll probably be hearing a lot about it here as I work through it.

I was reading this week about how God is characterized by joy. Willard writes,
"Undoubtedly, [God] is the most joyous being in the universe. The abundance of his love and generosity is inseparable from his infinite joy. All of the good and beautiful things from which we occasionally drink tiny droplets of soul-exhilarating joy, God continuously experiences in all their breadth and depth and richness." 
Imagine the way your heart swells at the sight of some beautiful created thing--your child's laugh, a starry night, the profile of your loved one, or just a tiny brilliant blue wildflower. That's just a taste of the joy our all-seeing Creator God experiences continually (and our delight reflects how we are made in his image, right?).

I was illustrating this verse yesterday for a new set of Advent coloring pages:
"He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:15-17, ESV) 
Now imagine the joy of the Trinity, the Son holding all things together, all things made through Him and for Him. The Father delighting in the Son and His Creation. The Spirit pouring out God's love into our hearts, taking what is Jesus' and declaring it to us (see Romans 5:5 and John 16:14).

The Trinity is not stingy with its joy. Father, Son, and Spirit invite us in:
"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:10-11 ESV)
I know this all might sound "up in the clouds," but Willard argues that what and how we think about God is essential for life right now. He writes, "To trust in God, we need a rich and accurate way of thinking and speaking about him to guide and support our life vision and our will."

I'm praying we understand Him better today and in Him, find great joy and purpose.

Today's screensaver is from a little square painting I did for an Instagram challenge last month and the words of Psalm 16:11 (I've illustrated a Scripture card freebie of this verse before here). You can download your screensaver by saving the image below.*

 p.s. I'm listening to Lauren Daigle's new album, are you?


PRAYING the Word
Father, help me see you clearly. Help me look up when life is overwhelming and dark. Spirit, reveal the riches of the Father to me and the "inexpressible gift" of  God's grace that gives me "all sufficiency in all things at all times" so that I can "abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8).

QUESTIONS to consider:
1. Do you think of God as being filled with joy?
2. What does God take joy in?  (see also Psalm 18:19; Zephaniah 3:17) 
3. How does the truth about God's joy and delight affect you today?


*I'm so happy for you to enjoy my coloring pages and printables for your personal (not commercial) use! Use for Bible studies, church groups or events, and Sunday school classes are all fine! If you're in doubt, I'm happy to answer any questions. All artwork and photos are copyright Marydean Draws. If you share this, you're awesome (!), and as a courtesy,  please link back to this post and not the PDF file. Thank you!!
**affiliate link. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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The joy of God + a Psalm 16:11 Screensaver

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fullness in Christ
Do you ever find yourself scrambling to fill a need you can't even clearly identify? 

 Chocolate!
Coffee!
Social media feed!
Something to distract me!
Love me, love me (husband, friends)!
Just one more cute shirt!

For me these searches quickly turn into discontentment and irritation. Well, that didn't work . . . on to the next thing.

 And it's exhausting.
"Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food." (Isa 55:2 ESV)
One of our pastors said something recently that captures this tension I feel. He said, "It's not that following Jesus is burdensome, but this world is a hard place to delight in Jesus above all else."

 Jesus is incomprehensibly good, but we battle the one-two-three punch of the world, the flesh, and the devil. 

 And only the Spirit is up for that fight, friends.

 I'm reading a book called How People Change by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp and the authors explain it this way:
 "The Bible describes us as defectors and enemies of God who want to fill ourselves with things in creation rather than the Creator . . . Scripture's approach calls us to forsake the things we have sought to fill our emptiness. Before we can be filled with God's grace, we must engage in intelligent, honest repentance. We have to forsake and demolish the god-replacements that have supplanted the true God in our lives. Repentance is a form of emptying the heart." 
Have I tried to set up created things in the huge vacuum of God in my life, like a teacup of water spilled out on a cracked and dusty desert? Most certainly. And I (and my relationships) suffer for it daily.
Measly teacupfuls evaporate almost on impact. What we need is a deluge from heaven.
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." (Col 2:8-15 ESV)
Colossians 2:9-10a
Glorious, right? Full in Christ. Sinful flesh circumcised. Raised with Him through faith. My debts forgiven.

I believe these things . . . but sometimes I just don't.
"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24b
I believe that I no longer live, but Christ lives in me through His Spirit (Galatians 2:20), but often I'd rather be known for my own personality and confidence (and spend lots of time analyzing these things).

 I believe Jesus is my bread of life (John 6:35), but I want to be filled by my own comfort (and might react badly if you mess with it).

 I believe Jesus is my constant Counselor and teacher (John 14:26), but I'd rather just have an easy marriage and compliant children, and not rely on Him to teach me how to live by the Spirit.

 I believe Jesus died on the cross, but I resist the fact that my sins sent Him there, and in Him I am freely forgiven along with every other sinner who falls on His grace.

 I believe Jesus fills me up, but sometimes I'd just prefer my husband to be perfectly in tune with all my needs and desires (here I get an eye-roll from him, ha).

I know in my head what Jesus offers. But sometimes I just don't want those things. I want lesser things. My appetites are unsophisticated, earthly.

 quick and easy cup-o-noodles over homemade pasta in carefully brewed broth
oily canned tuna fish over prime steak on the grill
dry powered donuts from a bag over hand-made ones fresh off the fryer

 The lesser, easier stuff, just doesn't satisfy long-term.

 All I know is that developing a taste for "rich food" is something only Jesus can do in us. The current of our thoughts carry us in a particular direction. And while deeply ingrained, they are not immovable. The greater current of God's Spirit can shift them over time as we empty ourselves and ask Him to fill us.
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Col 3:2-4 ESV)
"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Rom 8:6 ESV)
God is working these things out in me these days. Do I believe what I believe in the simplest of moments? Because that's where real change happens.

When you feel strung out and discontent: 
"I am full in Christ. There is nothing He hasn't given me today."

 When you are weary and discouraged:
"I am full in Christ. There is nothing He hasn't given me today."

 When you feel like you're at the end of everyone's list of priorities:
"I am full in Christ. There is nothing He hasn't given me today."

 When you look in the mirror and wish for something better.
"I am full in Christ. There is nothing He hasn't given me today."

I think I'm only beginning to taste fullness in Christ, friends. And it's oh. so. good. And free! 

 There's nothing keeping you from coming to Him for fullness today. Jesus has already set the table for you. You only have to come.
"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food." (Isaiah 55:1-2 ESV)
To keep these truths on your heart, I'm sharing this printable Bible verse coloring page from Colossians 2:9-10a! You can download your page HERE or by clicking on the image below!* (This image is also in full color in my "Mission: Motherhood" Scripture card set HERE!)
bible verse coloring page

 PRAYING the Word
Jesus, thank you for choosing to fill us with yourself. Teach us to delight in YOU above all else today.

 QUESTIONS to ask about the verses:
1. What does this verse tell you about the person of Jesus?
2. How does it feel to be "full" in Christ?
3. What things do you try to fill yourself with? How do they make you feel?


*I'm so happy for you to enjoy my coloring pages and printables for your personal (not commercial) use! All artwork and photos are copyright Marydean Draws. If you share this, you're awesome (!), and as a courtesy,  please link back to this post and not the PDF file. Thank you!!

If you like this, you can get these posts in your inbox by signing up HERE! You'll also receive occasional news from my Etsy shop.

Living full in an empty world + Colossians 2:9-10a Bible verse coloring page

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"Love your Story" Printable Art Print


It's so good to be back after my month of rest! Even though my husband (who has recovered well) was stuck on the couch a good two weeks after his knee surgery, I found there's a soul rest that doesn't depend on the fullness of your days. My house is rarely quiet, but my soul needed to stop striving and live quietly for a while.

Over the break, I read three books in the Chronicles of Narnia series that I don't ever remember reading. If you haven't read this series by C.S. Lewis, I'm a bit jealous that you have the chance to read them for the first time, although they're good the second and third too!

I came across a theme in Lewis's The Horse and His Boy that has been marinating in my heart since I read it. One of the characters, a young girl named Aravis, runs away from an undesirable marriage and so unwittingly causes her former servant to be punished. Aravis asks Aslan about this girl's fate (Aslan is a lion, and the central character in the all the books. He is the Creator and ruler of Narnia).

Aslan responds, "Child . . . I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own."

Aslan's words remind me of Jesus's words to Peter in their first conversation after Peter denied Jesus three times and since Jesus's resurrection. Jesus has just reaffirmed Peter's calling to "Feed My sheep." But Peter's mind turns quickly to the future of Jesus's other disciple, John, who was, after all, "the disciple Jesus loved" (John 13:23)! Peter asks, "But Lord, what about this man?"

Jesus replies, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me" (John 21:21-22).

Just like Peter, I can be such a "but what about her?" kind of girl.  In our social age, we can get so lost in everyone else's story. We know how they feel about politics, the weather, their spouses, and various causes. We know what kind of food they're eating, how they decorate their homes, and how they spend their Saturdays and with whom.

I'm not arguing that this sharing is bad, but I think social media can create an environment that is unhealthy for unguarded hearts. Just as you are more likely to get malaria in the jungle than in New York City, although neither place is inherently good or bad, you're more likely to struggle with loving your own story in certain environments. And just as you're more likely to become sick if you have a compromised immune system, you're more likely to struggle in certain environments if your heart is vulnerable.  At the root, the problem is not the environment, but the heart.

My heart sure needs a boost of immunity. I struggle to love MY story, the story that my faithful God is writing.

I'm like Peter asking Jesus, "Well, what about her . . .
marriage,
ministry,
business,
energy level,
strengths,
children's behavior,
friendships,
hardships,
HER STORY?"

Like Jesus' gentle redirection of Peter's heart, He lovingly says to me (I imagine with my cheeks grasped between His hands in an attempt to get me to focus) "If I am doing that in her life, what is that to you? You, follow me."

So simple. You follow Me, my dear.

Maybe your story is messy.
Maybe your story is unhappy.
Maybe your story is confusing.
Maybe your story is incredibly ordinary.

But written all into the plot lines is God's great faithfulness to you. Written into your story is His great grace for you ensured at the cross by the Son. Written into your story is His conforming work that makes you more like Him..

So love your story because God is walking you through it, moment by moment. Joni Earickson Tada in her book, A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God's Sovereignty, relates her journey as a quadriplegic for more than 40 years. She explain how she is able to go on through the pain:
"I can go on . . . because God moves through time with me. . . . He knows time in a personal, experiential way. As the writer of Hebrews said, 'We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality' . . . When you find yourself in chronic agony, life gets reduced to hours rather than days--and sometimes minutes and seconds. When I am in physical distress in the night, unable to sleep, unable to move, and unwilling to awaken Ken (again) to turn me, I need to know that God's concern and care for me is literally breath by breath, heartbeat by heartbeat, moment by moment."
God is not a distracted and distant author. No, He is the God who is with us, the God who was one of us, the God who now dwells in those who trust in Him. Your story is personal to Him.

Love your story because the Author already sees the end of it--and it's beautiful if you'll trust Him.  It may not be beautiful now, but it's not finished.  
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
If you trust in Him and His work on your behalf, your story ends with you face to face with all His brilliant glory. It ends with you fully knowing the Author of life, just as He has always known you. It ends with all your current heartache and pain, victories and accomplishments, fading in the light of His presence.
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." 2 Corinthians 4:17
There are a great many stories that God is writing, and I hope we'll take joy in sharing in those, especially via social media. But only you can live yours.

Jesus says, "YOU follow me."

To remind you of this truth, I made a print for you to print and frame or just clip on your refrigerator. You can download your 8x10 print HERE (usage below*). If you'd like a smaller size, cut your paper to the desired size (such as a 5x7), change your paper size in your printer settings, and then choose the "scale to paper" option. Enjoy!




*I'm so happy for you to enjoy my coloring pages and printables for your personal (not commercial) use! All artwork and photos are Ã£ Marydean Draws. Please share freely by posting a link back to this blog post. Please don't repost the actual file. If you share this, you're awesome (!), and as a courtesy,  please link back to this post and not the PDF file. Thank you!!

If you like this, you can get these posts in your inbox by signing up HERE! You'll also receive occasional news from my Etsy shop.

Loving your story + Printable Art Print

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 We just returned from vacation happy, but exhausted. As I walked around the house, I saw the many chores filling up the days ahead--the vacuuming, the dishes, the homeschool room that needs to be set up, the laundry, and the poop incident in the tub. 

 And inside I complained. 

 As I sat and watched the baby in his high chair after dinner, I felt God gently prompt me to thank Him. Here in front of me was the child I dearly wanted and was graciously given! Here was the child whose birth I worried over--alive and well!

 And here I sat in my air-conditioned house that we also prayed for over two years ago--and were graciously given.

 The sounds of my TWO other healthy children filled the house. And then there's my husband, a gift given at age 28 when I longed to be married. Almost eight years later, here we are, still married and still growing in grace.

 Those are things I can see. What of the huge rescue plan God set forth before creation to make us His own? What of God becoming flesh, giving His blood to make us fit for Him? What of the gift of the Spirit's continual presence and comfort? What of the miracles God is working in my heart as He changes me "from glory to glory"? 
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18
I'm in need of a workout in thankfulness! I'm out of shape and suffering for it. Why is it such a battle to be thankful?

 I'm reminded of this verse from Romans 1, the chapter that describes our human descent into sin as we push away God's reign:
"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:21
Did you catch the part about thankfulness? Our rebellious nature does not want to honor God or give thanks to Him. And even though I love God and He has redeemed me from slavery to sin, my flesh remains, needing to be put to death over and over (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5).

 I pray and worry over things, and as soon as God comes through, I go on to the next worry. Now that I have a healthy baby, I worry about keeping him alive. Now that we've returned safely from our road trip, I'm onto the next fear. 

 When will my heart ever be grateful to my Provider if I keep this up?

 When will I finally rest in the knowledge of His goodness?

 For He is good after all. And He promises that He works all things for the good of those who love Him. But do we have eyes to see this good?

Consider this verse:
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." Romans 8:28-29
Could it be that if we loved God more and embraced what He calls "good" and HIS purposes for us--being conformed to the image of Jesus--"all things" in life would be fodder for thanksgiving? 

 What if God's "good" for us involves a certain amount of pressure, for what thing is "conformed" to another image without pressure? Can we be thankful even under pressure today knowing that it makes us more like the Son? 

 When we let God define our good, and give Him thanks, our hearts become positioned to see EVERY BLESSING.

God, forgive me for missing the beautiful view of your faithful love, your faithful conforming, your faithful provisions, and your gracious gift of salvation. God, help me hold dearly to the greatest gift you've given me--YOURSELF. Help me give thanks in it all today, because You are always up to something good!

 We've been singing "Ever Be" around the house and at church lately (or as Anna calls it "Never Be"). Let's sing it out to our faithful God today!




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The Thankful View

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I have days when I'm just sad. Depression is just a part of the rhythm of my life. It comes and goes. Sometimes I can figure out the source (physical, situational) and others times I can't. I feel sad or oppressed by life, weighed down. I get quiet and weepy. I feel extra needy and don't know why.

One blessing of having been very low in the past is that I know a few things: I know God will sustain me and I know how to deal.  I'm certainly not qualified to give advice about depression, but can only share some things that work for me.

Worship
It's the last thing I want to. But it's what I need, to see the God that is bigger than this little world of mine that feels so small. I love to sing. This morning I sang a worship song, and just the act of raising my hands to the goodness of my God lifted my spirit. He is BIGGER than this!

Scripture
When I feel this way, my heart is often dull to Scripture. I read it, but I don't feel it. So I keep reading, I keep asking God to encourage my heart . . . until something sticks.

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you." Psalm 139:17-18

People
I try to let people in and share my burdens even if I can't quite explain. I'm not meant to do life on my own, even with the precious Holy Spirit in me (see this post). He made me for relationship. No one knows my heart unless I share it. I ugly cried at church this Sunday and so appreciated the hugs I got from sweet friends.

Outward
I often need a break as a mom, and I'm all for that. My favorite thing to do is roam aimlessly through a thrift store with only my thoughts for company. But that doesn't necessarily meet my needs. Life is still life when I get back.

Depression pulls you into yourself, but Jesus calls you to lose your life and put others before yourself (Philippians 2:3).

I love these thoughts from Edward Welch's Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest (I keep recommending this one):
"When the kingdom of God is ruling our hearts, we aspire more to serve than be served, honor more than be honored, and love more than be loved . . . . Do we run he risk of a lopsided relationship? Absolutely. That is the relationship we have with God--he always loves first and most. . . . At the most difficult point of his [Jesus'] life, he was betrayed, denied, and abandoned. But through it all his love was unwavering. In this, he established the pattern for true humanness . . . . Always strive to have an imbalance in your heart where the desire to love outdistances the desire to be loved."
There is such freedom in laying aside what I like to call the "vortex of me" and laying down my life for my kids, my husband, my friends. Life is not found in casting off my responsibilities and the things that sometimes I see as burdens. Freedom is found in becoming more like Jesus, who laid down His life for me.

Laugh
I have a Pinterest board full of things that get me laughing. Some may totally not be your sense of humor, but feel free to check it out.

This one gets me every time:
Who's is it then?
Image: http://funsubstance.com/fun/88414/whos-is-it-then/
And lastly . . . patience
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction,  out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." Psalm 40:1


I'm learning to be patience with my emotions as they come in line with truth, patience with my weaknesses, patience with my faithful God Who Is beyond patient with me.





How I deal with depressing days

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Do you ever have days where your soul feels sore? I had one recently. There was nothing major wrong, just a multitude of little things rubbing me wrong.

A child with an attitude.
A conversation with a teacher, "We had a little problem with so-and-so today. She's normally so good . . ."
A sinful thought that disappoints.
An interrupted nap.
An unresolved relationship that I can't control.
A struggling friend.
An awkward conversation I wish went better.
Worry over what someone might think of something I said.
An ambition not yet fulfilled.
Exhaustion.
Bad snacking habits (Halloween candy . . . )

These stack up and gradually I feel yucky. And I begin to wonder what's wrong.

But God is training me even now. He whispers, "Think about things that are true" (Philippians 4:8).


TRUE:
God is on His throne.
I live under God's grace.
I am broken, but He is perfect.
Jesus has given me the gift of His perfect life.
I trust Him.
He is good.
HE alone is satisfying.
He is enough.
. . . and ALL is really well, because HE IS.


and repeat . . . 
Until the yuckiness is replaced by peace.
Until the self-focus is replaced with Jesus-focus.
Until the murky faith is replaced with confident coming to Him.



Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Philippians 4:8 is one of the Scripture cards in my printable "EnCourage" set in my shop!

Telling my soul the truth

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Something about mommying pushes me to the end of my of myself--pretty much every day--or at least several times a day. I stay home with the kids and we're starting homeschool in the Fall, so we're together A LOT. I love it, I really do, and I'm so thankful for it, but it pushes all my buttons and challenges all my shiny, but fake idols that I love more than Jesus (including a desire for space and control over that space, and a desire for an appearance of togetherness and sanity).

Likely you're in some kind of situation that's pushing you beyond yourself.

I find myself looking for distraction, for a get-away, for something more exciting than my little, often frustrating, world. It can be Pinterest, the news, Instagram, shopping, or chocolate. I think all those things are okay, but they're not really what I'm looking for.

"What are you looking for that you can't find in me?" That's what I felt God asking me as I woke up one day with that searching feeling. 

What is more encouraging than God's perfect words ("the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times" Psalms 12:6), more encouraging than the Spirit walking alongside me, more beautiful than the life, death and resurrection of my Jesus? I'm so broken that those things don't always feel attractive to me. That's why God is at work in my heart every day, gently pursuing me with questions like these. Calling me to turn from my distractions to REAL satisfaction.

What are you looking for that you can't find in Jesus? He promises much, friends.

"My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:5

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And the earth has nothing I desire besides you." Psalm 73:25

What am I looking for?

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