October 5, 2014

HEYO JS FAMILY!

Last Sunday at Impact Service was Talk/Take Two of

with the lovely Ashlee Eiland! 

But before that! Mia & Tony taught us a new song! 
Which pretty much made my day because I've been playing this song on repeat for just about all summer. :) 

As Your love 

In wave after wave 

Crashes over me 

Crashes over me 

For You are for us 

You are not against us 

Champion of Heaven 

You made a way 

for all to enter in 

Okay, now back to our time with Ashlee! 

Was anyone else tearing up during her wedding video? I definitely was. 
How absolutely beautiful. 
I love the words from the book of Philippians that were read over Ashlee, Delwin and everyone present: 

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, 
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, 
whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, 
if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Philippians 4:8 

I was also super excited when she opened her message with Ephesians 4:31. One of my close friends from TX asked me to write this specific verse out for her at the beginning of the summer! 

Ashlee used an analogy of crummy cafeteria food to the free, lavish banquet to illustrate the idea of "grieving the Holy Spirit." It simply saddens God when we don't receive all of the goodness He offers us by His amazing grace. Let's go to the banquet y'all! :) 
To illustrate this even further, Ashlee's analogy reminded me of one of my favorite lines by C.S.Lewis in his book The Weight of Glory. 

"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.

We are offered infinite joy, but it is as if we are an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea." 

Ashlee also explained that it is when we rest in who we are in Christ, 
we are less prone to fall into these sinful patterns. 

So- how do we fortify our identity in Christ!? 

One woman who discipled me in college taught me to have these truths running on replay in my mind, every day. 

I am deeply loved

I am completely forgiven

I am totally accepted

I am fully pleasing

I am a new creation, complete in Christ 

The more we remind ourselves who we truly are in Christ, 
the closer we are to believing it wholeheartedly. 

At House Groups...

I was on the edge of my seat excited for House Groups during Impact Service this Sunday. I couldn't get over the awesome connection between what we learned in service and what we planned for our House Group time. 

I got to share with y'all something that has strengthened my relationship with God in the past year. A couple weeks ago, Bryan shared with us that when we struggle with sin, the heart of the issue is a lack of trust in God. This week at House Groups, we got to get a little more specific about this lack of trust. We looked at 4 qualities of God that when we don't believe wholeheartedly, can throw us off track. 

Then we broke off into groups based on which truth you felt you could grow in trusting. Here's the scripture we read in our groups! :) 

God tells us about the armor He provides for us in Ephesians chapter 6. The only piece of armor described as offensive is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Therefore, let’s look at how we can use this sword of the Spirit to protect our hearts against lies that lead us into sin patterns.

God is great, so I don’t need to be in control

 “There is no one like You, O Lord; You are great, and great is Your name in might.” Jeremiah 10:6

"Yours, O LORD, 

is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, 

indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; 

Yours is the dominion, O LORD, 

and You exalt Yourself  as head over all." 

1 Chronicles 29:11 

"Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, 

and His greatness is unsearchable." 

Psalm 145:3

"Now to Him who is able 

to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, 

according to the power that works within us, 

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 

throughout all generations, 

forever and ever. Amen." 

Ephesians 3:20-21

God is glorious, so I don’t need to fear others

"Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and might, 

The LORD mighty in battle." 

Psalm 24:8

“The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?” 

Psalm 27:1

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” 

Romans 8:31

God is good, so I don’t need to be satisfied elsewhere   

“I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; 

I have no good apart from you.” Psalm 16:2

“Taste and see that the Lord is good! 
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! ” Psalm 34:8

“You are blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God.

He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.” Matthew 5:6

God is gracious, so I don’t need to prove myself

“The Lord waits to be gracious to you,

he rises to show you compassion,” Isaiah 30:18

“For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith-

and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—

not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

You guys rock my world. :) 

Fully Known & Fully Loved, 

Cassandra