Learning in a Way That's Uniquely Me

I wanted to be a chemist.  I'm constantly curious; I love the process of questioning, experimenting, learning...

I didn't become a chemist, but I'm realizing that I apply the same motivation to learning about God.  When I hear of some new aspect of God that I haven't experienced, my faith responds.  I determine to see how it works.  I practice (experiment with) living it out in my life through faith.  I experience my beliefs.

For example, if I see myself seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), how can that work out experientially in my life?  If I'm to do what I see the Father do (John 5:19), how do I live a lifestyle of seeing what God does and doing it?

I love the process of learning these things. 

I love this life!

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Faith Hope Love

1 Corinthians 13 (known as the love chapter) ends by teaching that faith, hope and love remain and the greatest of these is love. 

This is how I check my love for others:

1) Do I have faith in them? Hebrews 11:1 teaches that faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Do I see as reality the good God created in others (though it may not be apparent at the moment)?

2) Do I have hope for them? Do I live in expectancy that positive change can occur in people at any time?

3) Do I show love? If I have faith and hope, I desire to do good toward someone. I don’t want to “do good” out of a desire to people-please or fix someone’s life. The truth of God’s love is so much greater than what my mind could imagine love to be.  I need to be Spirit-led.  Sometimes I am to show love through prayer, an act only God sees.

Fulfilling others expectations is not love. Showing the love of God goes above and beyond expectations. The acts of love shown through God’s love honestly meet the needs of giver and receiver.

By the way, I also apply faith, hope and love to myself.  I am to love others as I love myself (Matthew 22:39).

I LOVE THIS LIFE!

Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith

All is well.

An occurrence of several years ago saddened me each time I remembered it.  A lovely chain of events seemed to end in a pile of poo. 

I recently learned, however, the apparent pile of poo was a catalyst from which a wonderful event occurred.  I now feel honored to have been part of the process.  End from beginning, it was actually amazing!

This is how God works. End from beginning, all is well. (Read the story of Joseph, Genesis 37:1-Genesis 50:20)

I love this life!

 Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Knowing the Heart

^{John 2:23-25 (Amplified Bible)}

But when He was in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, many believed in His name [identified themselves with His party] after seeing His signs (wonders, miracles) which He was doing.

But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself to them, because He knew all [men];

And He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man [needed no evidence from anyone about men], for He Himself knew what was in human nature. [He could read men’s hearts.]

According to Strong's Concordance, the word translated believed in verse 23 is the same as the word translated trust in verse 24.  People put their trust in Jesus because they saw His signs (doings).  Jesus did not put His trust in the people because he knew their hearts.

Simply seeing the good works of Jesus can draw me to Him, but what I see superficially doesn't change my heart.  I need to get to know him, to know His heart. 

When I receive Jesus and learn His heart, not just His works, my heart changes to become a heart Jesus can trust. 

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NKJV) reads, ^"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.   I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."

That's amazing.

I love this life!

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

True Life

I've been thinking about the viewpoint that all of life, end from beginning is in the process of occurring now (see my recent post, "Now").

As a child of God, because of the completeness of Jesus' salvation, my purity is now, my freedom from sin is now, my righteousness is now.  There may be process and growth involved in living out these truths, but they are true now nonetheless.  

Jesus has given me what He purchased with his life and death.  He kept the commandments - did not sin; end from beginning it's part of His gift to me. I have been grafted into His vine.  His life flows through me.

I don't currently understand the fullness of His gift, but I am no longer who I was.  Though I may make mistakes, sin is not my lifestyle.  Though I may get frustrated with people, hate is not my lifestyle. 

I thank God for this gift of true life.

I love this life! 

Copyright 2012   Leah Lambert Smith

Note - This post came from meditating on 1 John 3.

Walls

Hurts in my past left me trusting no one.  I labored over my protective walls adding to their thickness, berating myself when new hurts broke through.  As my walls thickened my life within withered.  In my attempt to survive, I was meticulously creating my tomb. 

But God is life.  He had started a good work in me and He brings His work to completion.  He is the author and finisher of my faith.  I simply had to allow God to do His thing.

Simply?

I had worked hard building my walls.  I felt exposed and vulnerable when letting them go. 

But God is my protection and living freely is divine. 

I love this life!

Copyright 2012
Leah Lambert Smith

Walking on Air

I was fighting fear.

I’d had a plan, a vision. I was confident all was moving forward. 

Until, it wasn’t.

A voice in my head was saying none of it was real.  The voice declared that I was walking on air, soon to have a major fall.  It said everyone would see my destruction and walk away.  

“You’re walking on air!” was repeated continually.  

I was expected at a friend’s house that evening, but wanted to crawl in a hole instead.  Rallying my remaining strength (fighting fear is exhausting) I resolved to visit my friend.  

I suppose driving distracted my dark thoughts just enough to allow a tiny ray of hope.  A picture of Peter walking on water flashed in my mind.  Peter fell only when he focused on the circumstances around him.*

Hope flooded my soul.  Peter was walking on the solidity of Jesus’ word, “Come.”  The very thing that would have drowned him had to support him because of Jesus' word and Peter's belief in it.  He had faith in Jesus’ proven authority.  So did I!

The plan I’d had was God given.  Even if the substance I was walking on appeared to everyone else to be air, I knew that I was strutting on solid rock.  Others were welcome to watch and wonder.  My eyes were focused on God alone.

I do walk on air, far above fear!

I love this life.

* Matthew 14:25-30 (CEV)
25 A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples. 
26 When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.
27 At once, Jesus said to them, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.”
28 Peter replied, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.
30 But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.