Facets of Faith

How has God Changed Your Perspective on…Yourself?

05.10.2016 by Jennifer Howe //

May’s question at FACETS comes for me (Jennifer) at the perfect time: How has God changed your perspective about yourself? I’ve recently spent extended time in reflection and self-evaluation. I recommend we all take that kind of precious quiet time to answer this question. Are you up for it? (I hope you are! And I hope you share links to your own reflections in the comments if you put them out there for the world to see.)

It’s incredibly difficult to escape my own perspective. I know I’d answer this question differently in each age and stage of life, and the responses would be flavored with the season I was steeping in. Or—maybe I can see more clearly for just a pair of minutes. How is that possible? (I’m pretty sure we’ve all got to get out of our own heads in order for it to happen.)

My first thoughts swirl through my mind. My initial perspective was that I hadn’t changed much, at least not in the ways I’d hoped or thought. Not all the bad habits were broken. Not all the good ones stuck. In a bad moment, I might wonder what “new creation in Christ” really means. When my mind goes there, I’m halfway home. To see things clearly, I need to find truth in the Scriptures!

So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived! 2 Corinthians 5:17 CJB

This translation helped clarify expectations. Somehow I thought I should be something of an Extreme Makeover (God edition). When my perspective required God to deliver on my perceived promises with a magic wand, there was bound to be trouble! Suddenly, there was a broken deal. There wasn’t some kind of “new Jen” from what I could see.

But look! I am “part of the new creation,” and I believe “the old things” and “new things” are laid out for me to discover in God’s truthful Word. That simply means the ultimate truth, the ultimate authority in life, is the truth from my Abba’s lips! (From his heart to the page to my mind and heart!) I begin with truth and add one thing more.

You may know I have written in my little corner of the Blogosphere at Fragrant Grace. There has always been irony in the name (I can’t smell scents very keenly, and I have always wrestled with black-white, not-so-gracious thoughts, words, and actions). When I took a deeper look at my perspective on myself, grace was the beautiful, bold-italic font the truth was written in. When I scrawled my own “truths” about me in my own handwriting, the problem was obvious: I vandalized God’s words with my own (minimizing or eliminating his truth and grace).

So, now you might be a little curious. What exactly did I hear during my time in the Word, from precious others, and from the Holy Spirit?

The whispers of my Father…

You are strong. Surviving everyday life sometimes requires endurance and a little muscle. The good, the bad, and the “Oh, my goodness!” moments in life change you. When you submit it all to Me, then I grant the strength you need. Remember “I lift my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD” (Psalm 121:1-2 NIV).

Your eyes are special. You see beauty where others don’t; you see beauty in the broken things. Beauty is actually woven into the “fabric” of Jen (creative graphics, drawings, and even your penmanship). You were created to see and unveil the beauty Abba has created. Isaiah 61:1-3 is real. Here or hereafter, there will be beauty!

You think. Continually. Sometimes you do that well, and when you do, that reflects the beautiful mind of God who knit you together before you had a single thought to think. When you taught Introductory Logic this year, you learned that “not all” means “some.” Some of the habits have changed. Some of the habits have stuck. That’s grace, baby!

Your yeses have often yielded amazing opportunities! When you see something I am doing (and participate in that), incredible things happen. You have learned to say YES! Years ago you gave more nos to protect yourself, your time, and your resources. You now look to see what the Spirit may be doing and what he may be saying. You’re learning to pause and try to find the yeses—the things I prepared for you.

And then the truth of the Bible speaks…

[Y]ou are precious and honored in my sight, and…I love you… Isaiah 43:4

Psalm 139 (Reminds me of how intimately he knows me, and how much he loves me!)

He wiped away the bill of charges against us. Because of the regulations, it stood as a testimony against us; but he removed it by nailing it to the execution-stake.
Colossians 2:14 CJB

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

It’s really true, and there is enough grace…

(There’s the perspective shift!)

I am made (“fearfully and wonderfully,” as Psalm 139:14 says) to love and be loved, to see and unveil beauty, and to find the yeses that will respond to what God is doing and saying in the everyday moments in life.

Stepping back, getting quiet, and reading the truth was the beginning of changing my perspective. Pausing and listening to others and the voice of the Spirit was the beginning of the grace infusion I desperately needed. The process has been an amazing experience. And the words have the significant weight of truth and the beauty of grace.

TRUTH and Grace.

And I can see me with fresh perspective.

Thanks for reading along, friends!

Why not answer the question, too—How has God changed your perspective on yourself? Share in the comments below or at our Facebook Page.

Scripture sourced from www.biblestudytools.com.

How Has God Changed Your Perspective About Yourself?

05.03.2016 by Tracy Stella //

Welcome to May, where hopefully we see far more flowers than we have during April in my (Tracy’s) neck of the woods. We’ve encountered a month full of showers – lots of snow showers. The white fluffy stuff seems like an affront come this time of year. Stealing time, winter keeps the blooms we long for from bursting forth into spring’s first breath.

The season causes our eyes to scan the ground as we look for signs of spring. What is it about those first flowers that delight us so? And how do flowers relate to our topic this month here at FACETS of Faith? How has God changed your perspective about yourself?

It took a few winter seasons to see the significant change and beauty God desired to bring into my life. During those really tough times where I felt frozen, buried beneath the snow, God was doing something significant. He was changing my perspective about me, and in doing so He changed me.

In order for a flower to grow, she needs to be nurtured. Her first baby shoots can’t withstand harsh conditions.

One of the most significant ways God changed my perspective about me was by revealing what His perspective was (and is) of me.

I came from a place where I excelled at internally flogging myself for all my failures. Oh and the list of those was long! How could I have done that? No wonder my life turned out to be such a train wreck. Maybe I deserved to be sitting in a ditch, life destroyed. What happened to me? How could I make so many wrong turns? Look at all the weeds – so many they choke out any hope of a beautiful bloom. You’re not (insert adjective here) enough.

I lacked compassion toward myself. Can you relate?

God heard that self-critical voice in my head. He had something to say about that. Too much was at stake for me to berate myself and believe the belittling words any longer. Future blooms, mine and others, depended upon digging deep into God’s perception of me. In spite of my failures. He knew (and knows) they exist. But eyes of Love saw through those to what I could become on the receiving end of His compassion.

Someone recently asked me how I came to love Jesus so much. I think the root is right here: God’s mercy reached in and nurtured my soul.

Early on, I felt like I was supposed to journal and ask God a question. It was a terrifying question. I wanted to hide from what I might hear. It was not only my voice I was accustomed to hearing harsh words from. There were plenty of humans who had hurled accusations and unkindness my way. My tender shoots couldn’t take any more torturous words from anyone.

I wasn’t sure I could handle what God had to say. I was too ashamed and certainly not feeling brave enough for any more berating. Even so, I felt a nudge. Nudge. Deep breath. Can I take this plunge? Do I want to know what God thinks of me? I don’t think I can. Oh, just jump! Jump already!

I leapt. Words scampered across the page of my journal.

God, what do you think of me?

I waited for the word gauntlet to drop.

No such thing happened. Mercifully, God’s words were the ones I longed to hear my whole life. Tender. Loving. Soft and gentle. In spite of my sin. Yes, He saw it, but those first tender shoots of our time together He said nothing of it. Not one word. Even though He had every right to. And that endeared me to Him FOREVER. Even now, it moves me to tears. How could it not?

What words do you long to hear?

My child, you are enough.

My dear, you are my delight.

You are Mine.

You are dearly and deeply loved.

I have seen all that has happened to you. It is not okay. Let me hold you in my arms.

You are forgiven.

I am not ashamed of you. Hold your head high.

I am proud of you.

You are worthy.

I have a calling hand-selected just for you. Only you can fill it.

That’s the place, the nutrient rich soil of mercy and forgiveness through the sweetest of words, where beauty in every flower emerges. Spring has arrived. And look at her blooms! God’s Word has this to say regarding beauty:

Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.—1 Peter 3:4 NIV

God helped me to see the importance of nurturing my inner self. He led by example. His words of compassion taught me the power of their impact on a person’s spirit. Mine.

The more I thought about His words and how they touched my heart, the more I realized how important the words I spoke over myself (whether silent or aloud) carried weight. I could either be weighed down by my words as the enemy attempted to keep me buried beneath the dirt, or I could choose God’s way. I could tap into the gentle and quiet spirit God was growing in me and speak sweet words over myself.

Timid at first, I began to give it a try.

Now, no word weapon formed against me will ever prosper again. Nope. You see I know whose I am and how much I am loved. I believe in myself enough to fight the spiritual battle and come out victorious.

Old Man Satan not fair keeping our flowers in hibernation when we long for them to burst forth into spring’s first breath. So let’s not let him. We’ll take authority with our words.

For me, I will remember how God sees me and not believe one stinking lie the enemy would like me to believe about myself. I’m too busy trying to bloom. I’m too busy pointing other flowers to smell the sweet intoxicating aroma of the love of Jesus, so they can bloom too. God’s glory bound to be revealed in a beautiful garden of fragrant flowers pointing to the Son.

How has God changed your perspective about yourself (or how does He want to)? Join the conversation.

The Beauty and Work of Friendship

04.26.2016 by Kim Findlay //

Today we’re excited to introduce the winner of our first contest through Facets of Faith – Gloria Cooley. Gloria is a gifted writer & speaker, friend, wife, and mom of 2 littles. Read on to learn how a necklace, a backpack, and a little girl helped her see the beauty of friendship.

Recently, my seven-year-old daughter wanted to buy a necklace. Not just any necklace but a “best friends” one. You know, the kind that has a heart or puzzle piece or some other object divided into two parts with “Best” written on one piece and “Friend” on the other? She brought the necklace over to me with great enthusiasm and asked if she could use her money to buy it. My gut reaction was “NO” but thankfully I hesitated before answering. I asked her with whom she would like to share the necklace. She really did not have a specific friend in mind and quickly listed a few names of girls at school. A short conversation ensued as we talked about what friendship and a best friend looks like. After a few minutes my daughter named a girl who truly is a good friend to her. We talked about why it might be nice to share this necklace with her. The purchase was made and my girl left the store with the joy of childhood friendship on her face and a plan of how to gift her friend with this necklace.

Friendship. If only it were as simple as purchasing an inexpensive necklace and gifting it to another with a pinky promise of being friends for life; however, developing and maintaining friendships is not always that easy.

C.S Lewis spoke of friendship in this way – “The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.”

God, the Creator, is at work revealing the beauty of others and Himself through the gift of friendship. It takes work on our part to acknowledge that beauty and respond. Some friendships develop naturally over shared neighborhoods, activities, and churches. Other friendships are a little more unlikely. These friendships develop despite geographic location, shared interests, and ethnicity.

Some of my favorite childhood books included stories of unlikely friendships or better yet what I like to refer to as God ordained friendships. Wilbur and Charlotte (Charlotte’s Web), Tod and Copper (Fox and the Hound), Pooh and Piglet (Winnie the Pooh), Mowgli and Baloo (The Jungle Book), Anne Shirley and Diana Berry (Anne of Green Gables), David and Jonathan (1 Samuel), the list could go on and on. Each of these friendships was unique and comprised of two unlikely individuals whose paths crossed and a friendship was formed.

Over the years, I myself have had a number of friendships that could only be God ordained and most certainly used to reveal His beauty. One such friendship developed across an ocean and a generation. We were the unlikeliest of friends: me, a college student from Florida, serving as a missionary in Hawaii, she a church secretary, wife and mother from Georgia. There was no reason our paths should ever cross, but God knew otherwise.

God used this unlikely friendship to teach each of us about Himself and reveal to us the beauty of the other. As Anne Shirley would say, it was “positively providential” that she and I would meet. Through a crazy series of events including a young college student from Georgia, a stolen backpack, a gift of help, a visit to Maui, a seminar at a conference for Sunday school teachers and later a trip to Georgia, this unlikely friendship began to blossom.

This friendship spanned miles and years filled with much laughter, joy and sorrow. We did not see the beauty of this friendship from the start and there have been times over the past 18 years that we have lost sight of the beauty God intended to reveal, but ultimately this friendship has been a picture of our Creator. A beautiful picture of what it means to share life with another. To encourage, uplift, admonish, teach and rebuke when needed.

The beauty of this friendship is not because of the two, flawed individuals involved but by the grace of God and our willingness to look past the surface and trust what God intended for our friendship. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.”

As I think back to the joy on my daughter’s face as she purchased that necklace I can only pray that she will experience a number of friendships that will point her to God, reveal her inner beauty and allow her to return the same.