ALL THINGS NEW

Favorite author meets favorite subject. ❤

I knew I would love this book. I got so much out of the Hope in the Coming Kingdom CDs, and I remember wishing back in 2013 that John Eldredge might write a book about that someday.  Now he has. =)  (I was thankful to be part of the early launch team, getting a free copy to read and review. I will buy more of them soon as gifts for others. The book releases on September 26th, and you can preorder it HERE.)

This book covers a lot of ground, and it stirs up a lot of wonderful HOPE for Christ followers. It reminds us of the restoration of all things... that Christ will rule as King, that evil will be overthrown and destroyed, that nothing we love will truly be lost... that our favorite places and animals and memories and people will be a part of our lives there, forever. There will be great music and food and joy and love and a completely trustworthy, strong community where we are all both family and friends!  There will be no racism, hatred, terrorism, death, shadow of death, sorrow, sin, etc. We will be completely free from bondage to death and decay, forever young and vibrant and healthy and whole!  We will finally understand what God was doing in our darkest moments and see His plan throughout history. There will be so much to do and learn and explore and discover! This beautiful future is promised and it is coming for all who know Christ as Lord, yet most Christians spend very little time thinking about it...

Our kingdom hope is meant to be the "anchor for our souls."  John talks about God being our first love -- that when we get that right, it rescues us from so much heartache and pain. (I can attest to that on both sides!)  Similarly, the coming Kingdom of Christ is supposed to be our ultimate hope, and when we place our highest hope there, it rescues us from so much -- from the enemy's attacks and from being devastated over the many things that fall short of our hopes and expectations here on earth.  When our first love or our ultimate hope are placed elsewhere, we will suffer painful letdowns and often struggle to recover.  I wish I could convey how much THIS MATTERS.  Having this firm and secure hope in Christ helps to ground us through the ups and downs of earthly life, and this book awakens and strengthens that hope.  We will live forever and reign with Christ. No eye has seen and no ear has heard all that God has planned for us who love Him, but we can trust that we will not be bored or disappointed in it!!  So I would encourage you to press into this hope, to let your heart go there, and of course, to buy and read this book. ❤

Now we see things imperfectly,

Like puzzling reflections in a mirror,

But then we will see everything with perfect clarity.

All that I know now is partial and incomplete,
But then I will know everything completely,
just as God now knows me completely.

-1 Corinthians 13:12

Favorite quotes from the book:
"Far too often Christians experience the death of a loved one as devastation... I am not making light of grief nor loss. I am very familiar with them. But we must, we must keep before us the reality that our dear ones are not dead at all. They are more alive now than they have ever been."

"When I speak of hope, I mean the confident anticipation that goodness is coming. A rock-solid expectation, something we can build our lives on. Not the delicate and fragile hopes most people are trying to get by with... An unbreakable, unquenchable hope."

"God has given you a heart for His kingdom - not the wispy vagaries of a cloudy heaven, but the sharp reality of the world made new. This is one of the most important things you can know about yourself... That is the only hope strong enough, brilliant enough, glorious enough to overcome the heartache of this world... So let us chase it now with all of our being."

"Pause and let this be true: evil is judged and utterly destroyed. Forever and ever. Not just in the fairy tale, but here in reality... Oh, the hope that begins to rise at the thought of a world where the enemy no longer gets to do what he does. To see our loved ones released from their lifelong battles. To be released from our own lifelong battles, knowing with utter surety that the kingdom of death and darkness is forever destroyed... You look to your right and left, and you only see people you can trust completely." 

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth...

Be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create,

For I will create Jerusalem to be a delight

And its people a joy."

-Isaiah 65:17-18

"If you will begin to choose the kingdom - "seek ye first" - if you consciously and deliberately give your heart to the renewal of all things, you will notice the effects immediately . So much pressure will be lifted off your current hopes; when things don't go well, you'll find yourself less angry, less dejected... you'll find yourself freer to risk, especially love." 

"Justice cannot be justice if God were to simply ignore those who persist in hating Him till the end... Not everyone wants the joys of heaven-on-earth for the simple reason that they do not want Jesus to be King."

"Salvation is found in no one else,

For there is no other name under heaven

Given to mankind by which we must be saved."

~Acts 4:12

"Jesus is our defender. And, friends, Jesus will come to our defense. Your story needs to be told rightly... There are so many stories that need to be brought out into the light and so much vindication that needs to take place if justice is real and healing true."

"God does not merely scrap creation and our intended roles along with it. He restores everything!"  
~John Eldredge, All Things New

Finally, this was unexpected and fun - I got to be on the radio this past weekend!! I prefer writing to speaking, but I did okay for short notice (Annie messaged me on Thursday asking if I would be willing to meet her at the studio on Saturday.) You can listen to the podcast below! =)) I'm very thankful that I got to share about Jesus and the coming Kingdom and promote the All Things New book! ❤

It Changes Everything!

(From John Eldredge's Hope in the Coming Kingdom CDs:)

"If you honestly thought that your life was going to be utterly restored, you would be okay.  Really.  If you believe that life is about to get gloriously good, then you don't have to work so hard trying to make life happen now.  You're actually free to love.  You're free to fight for others!  If you know that every dream you've ever had is about to come true, you're free.  The enemy can't touch you!  ...And meanwhile, you can bring the Kingdom - you can help rescue people!"  ~John Eldredge

The coming of the Kingdom is "the renewal of all things."  (Mt. 19:28)

And, friends, that Kingdom is coming.  IT IS COMING.

If this hope we are talking about is the anchor for our souls, then of course it will be attacked!  Of course the enemy will come against it.  But the Kingdom of Christ is coming, and with it, the life that you are longing for!

* * * * * * *

What are the first three things you want to do when you enter the Kingdom?

* * * * * * *

"This isn't poetry.  This isn't metaphor.  Do you believe the Kingdom is coming or not!?  And if you do believe it, it changes everything!  It's not harps and halos; we are not going to sing forever... that is a wretched hell lie.  Yes, of course there will be worship!  But there will be a lot of other things too...

We have some time on our hands coming to us.  This is why I hate the concept of a bucket list.  People say, "Oh, I just hope before I die that I get to see Rome."  And I'm thinking, why?  You can go there... literally, you can ask Paul to show you around!  Do you think I'm joking?  But that's the crazy thing about this bucket list idea.  Do you think this life is your only life?  This life is a moment, it's a wisp.  It's nothing compared to the life in the Kingdom.

This is the only reason that Paul can say the audacious things he says like, "our momentary, light afflictions are obtaining for us a weight of glory..."  I want to go, time out - it doesn't feel momentary, and they sure as hell don't feel light.  
But it is... by comparison.

You don't have to pine away for those things now - you don't need a bucket list.  You could make a heaven list, a Kingdom list, dreams that you can start now and go on and on!

It frees you to live with the partial.  The goals and things you dream of... the friendships you long for... these things are coming.   It's not like it's over.  There is no 'over.'  When Jesus said "eternal life," you are given a life that has no end.  It's not singing forever, it's not religious, but it is LIFE, fully restored!!

Continue to reflect on this, to press into this and allow your heart to go there."
~John Eldredge

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." 

~Revelation 22:12-13

"No, I will not abandon you as orphans--I will come to you."

~Jesus, John 14:18

"You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord's coming is near."  

~James 5:8

Dreaming Out Loud

(From John Eldredge's Hope in the Coming Kingdom CDs:)

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM.  And that means there is the freedom to not have to sin, not to live in fear.  Freedom to fail; freedom to succeed.  The freedom to have our heart rest in the security of the love of God, knowing that there is nothing that can take us out of the palm of His hand, knowing that there is nothing, ever, that can separate us from the love of God.  And because of that, we are free to enjoy "the partial" on this side of eternity...

Because sometimes the partial is really great; right!?  The great moments of connection and laughter and beauty stir our hearts.  I've learned that a good appetizer does not quench your hunger, but it stirs it.  The partial stirs our longing for more, and there is more.  There IS more.

We get to dream... No one will get to heaven and be disappointed!  God dreams big, and He invites us to dream with Him.  Since we are living securely in the love of God, we are free to risk dreaming.  God has planted dreams and desires in each one of our hearts, and they are unique to us. When we open up our hearts, our spirits, our imaginations to what we would really like, to the possibility of even wanting, that allows the Holy Spirit to awaken parts of our heart that are in deep REM sleep.  

God is a dreamer, and He has dreams for you!

Dreams and desires are different than goals and resolutions.  It's not about: How can I make this happen?  It's about: If anything could happen, what would I love to see happen in my life and in the lives of those I love?  

The point of dreaming isn't so much naming the dream as it is allowing God access to the places where dreams are planted in you or where they have been covered over by the sorrows of life.  He has planted things deep down, and we want to awaken to them.  He speaks to us in this deep place about Himself, about ourselves.  Yes, the Kingdom is coming, and that is the anchor for our souls.  And because of that, it's okay to want more and long for more - we will never reach the end of His goodness, His kindness, His mercy.  With God, the possibilities are endless for your life.  Each of us wants to continue to grow in who we are throughout our lives.  The heart that is alive is awake and curious and open to pressing into more."  

~Stasi Eldredge

* * * * * * *

So what do you want... both here on earth and in the coming Kingdom?

What would you love to create or experience or offer?

What do you want to be known for?

What do you want with God?

* * * * * * *

"God wants our hearts to be more alive and more aware of our inner workings and His pleasure over us and who we are in this moment.  We are being transformed.  We are.  Faithful is He who called you and He will do it.  It's not about striving; it's about resting.  You get to become increasingly yourself."

The following is my favorite part of her teaching:  

"Treat your heart with kindness, compassion, and mercy!  The way we treat our hearts is the way we treat everyone else's.  It just happens.  Do you treat your heart with the freedom to dream, to love, to want?  The way you treat your heart - the things you say to yourself when you blow it - that's the way you treat others.  So how do you treat your heart?  With mercy or exasperation?  With gentleness or with harsh words?  With compassion or contempt?  With hope?  With love?  God knows it's difficult, and the only answer is to invite Jesus in...  Christ in me, help me to love even myself."

"Today, let God awaken your dreams!  Let them lead you further into the full expression of who you are.  Let them take you as far as they can.  This isn't about resolution, but pure, unfiltered desire.  With God, nothing is too good to be true.  Nothing.  He has made promises to us for a future and a hope and a heart that is glad!"  ~Stasi

"No matter how your heart is grieving,

if you keep on believing,

the dream that you wish will come true." :-)

Embrace the Partial

(From John Eldredge's Hope in the Coming Kingdom CDs:)

"I am sick of goodbye.  I hate it.  I really hate it.  It's absolutely brutal how your life can change with one goodbye.

 Jesus says, 'I've come to heal the broken heart.'  The Kingdom heals.  

And yet, that's the temptation when you're in it with disappointment, loss, unrealized dreams - to shut part of your heart down and pack it away...

We give up on relationship because it is partial.

We give up on friendship because it is partial.

We give up on work or on our calling because it is partial."

He talks a lot in this CD about "embracing the partial" ...to understand that this life is partial and incomplete, and no earthly thing can fully satisfy our hearts.  That is big for me, because I tend to be an all or nothing person, but there is no reason to give up on something good just because it is not perfect or everything I hoped it would be... (including myself and my life, friendships, family, life dreams, etc.  Nothing here will ever be perfection, and if I embrace that, I'll have a lot more joy and rest and grace for what is happening in the present!)  It really helps me to acknowledge that, but it would be completely disheartening without the belief that full restoration is coming later!

* * * * * * *

In day-to-day life, what are you hoping for these days??

* * * * * * *

Most of the things we hope for here are good but very temporal.  But we can take all of our hopes and put them in a larger context through faith, knowing that God is faithful and He is planning a wonderful future and hope for us -- and if we don't see the fulfillment of our God-given desires here, we will see them in heaven!

"Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."  ~1 Peter 1:13

"When you lose any real sense of anticipation of the Kingdom coming, you go looking for something to ease that ache... all of your attachments and addictions are narcotics for the Kingdom heart.  Mostly what we do is we go to survival mode, striving and indulging.  Your survival mode is extraordinarily damaging, whatever it is - it is godless - it is literally how we do life without God.  It typically looks like shutting down most of your desires, shrinking them to a size that something in this world can fill, and scrambling to try to keep control of your life.

The Kingdom is calling to you through all these other things, and that's what allows you to hold them with an open hand.

We live in a brutal world, but we have to get our hearts back and we have to get our hope back!  And in order to get there, you have to be honest about where you've gone and where you're camped right now...  

Paul says in Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  This is not about bucking up or generating some hope for ourselves.  It's just that we need to come to Jesus with these things and break the agreements we've been making, to give our Kingdom hearts back to Him and take them away from the idols and narcotics we've set up."
~John Eldredge

* * * * * * *

Have you tried to fit in by shutting down your heart or shrinking your desires?

* * * * * * *

Ask Jesus to show you the "agreements" you've made about His Kingdom... about hope.  (And as He shows you, break them.)

Freedom from death and decay...

*Because this subject matters so much to me and to every believer in Christ, I am re-posting seven posts I originally wrote in 2013, with a few minor edits. Then I will post a book review of John Eldredge's All Things New next Friday.

(From John Eldredge's Hope in the Coming Kingdom CDs:)

"Do you realize that when the Kingdom comes, nothing that was precious to you in this life is lost?  No memory, no event, none of your story or theirs.  Nothing is lost.  How could it be lost?  It's in the heart of the infinite God who encompasses all things.
.....I'm sitting there in this moment where all the data is very convincing that life is just lost.  But it's really this internal shift -- if you will accept that nothing is lost, then your heart is going to take a pretty deep breath."

"Creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay." ~Romans 8:21

"In order for the coming of the Kingdom, you've got to deal with evil, and God is going to!  The evil one finally gets what he deserves.  It's really good for the soul to realize what it will be like not to be assaulted anymore... free from accusation, physical affliction, the torment, the abuse, the evil in this world.  Can you imagine the joy we will experience when we get to watch the evil one thrown down for good?"

[He talks about a couple movie scenes where the villain is finally destroyed in the end - I can think of several more that I love - The Patriot, Gladiator, Shawshank Redemption, Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and so many more!]  

* * * * * * *

What is the evil that you will no longer have to face??  
What is the evil that you long to see destroyed on behalf of others??

* * * * * * *

"The renewal of all things includes YOUR renewal.  Just think of what you're not going to have to wrestle with anymore - whether it's your health, internal issues, fear, anger, compulsions, battles with resentment - think of what you are not going to wrestle with anymore...  None of it!  You get to be YOU... free, alive, whole, young, gorgeous, valiant!!"

* * * * * * *

What will you no longer wrestle with when all your brokenness is finally and completely healed?  And what about that for your loved ones as well - what will they no longer wrestle with?  What do they finally get to be??

* * * * * * *

"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd.  He will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  He who is seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything NEW!  No more tears, no more pain, no more death, no more mourning.  At the renewal of all things, our hearts are going to be FREE FROM GRIEF!"

* * * * * * *

Who do you look forward to seeing  - both those you love and those you long to meet for the first time!?

* * * * * * *

"And did you think about this?  You will see Jesus, face to face.  And not only see Him, but you will share life with Him!"
(All non-Scripture quotes are John Eldredge.)

* * * * * * *

What are you looking forward to with Jesus.....
What would you love to say to Him?
What do you hope He says to you?
What are you looking forward to doing with Jesus - together??

Kingdom Hope

*Because this subject matters so much to me and to every believer in Christ, I am re-posting seven posts I originally wrote in 2013, with a few minor edits. Then I will post a book review of John Eldredge's All Things New next week.

(From John Eldredge's Hope in the Coming Kingdom CDs:)

The Bible tells us repeatedly to fix our eyes on Jesus, set our minds on things above, and look forward to His return.  Because He is coming again, and when He does, life beyond what we can even dream of now will be ours!  

That eternal hope is the "anchor for our souls."  It's amazing what it does for you when you really stop and think about it for a while!  That's what these CDs helped me to do...  Hoping in the Coming Kingdom, by John and Stasi Eldredge, both of whom I truly adore.  I connect with them so much, and I know we'll be good friends when we all get to heaven someday... seriously, I'm excited for that, among many other things! :)

In the first CD, he asks these four questions, telling the listener to pause and reflect, to "let your heart go there" and write down your answers... it's all fun to think about, so that wasn't much of a chore.

* * * * * * *

What are a few of your favorite places (and what makes you love them)??

* * * * * * *

What are some of the greatest moments of joy in your life so far??

* * * * * * *

What is the redemption (restoration/healing) your heart longs to see - (small and great, for yourself and on behalf of others)??

* * * * * * *

What have you done to fill your hope for joy right now?
(What have you done with your Kingdom heart??)

* * * * * * *

Eldredge says that our heart's strong desire for LIFE as God intended it - (the life that we will have in the coming Kingdom of heaven) - explains all of our addictions and hopelessness and barely hanging on and resignation and cynicism and defeat here on earth...

"This is what all of our issues are about, ultimately.  You bring to this world expectations that it cannot possibly fulfill, and your precious heart gets broken.... There is not something wrong with you.  To have this heart in this world, it can feel like you're just damaged goods.  You may feel guilty for being disappointed... of course you're disappointed -- you have a heart for the Kingdom!"

His point is that all our greatest moments, favorite places, friendships, laughter, celebration, lightheartedness, joy, beauty, intimacy.... all the good and wonderful things we will ever experience in our earthly life are only a faint preview of what is to come.  Christ's Kingdom calls to us through all these things, but we make a serious mistake when we think that the life we seek is in these things.

Our hearts long for the coming Kingdom, and all these things keep them awake to that desire.  "When you really understand this to be true (at the heart level), it will disentangle you from so much."  I love that and I believe it!

Finally, he says that there is a connection between each of Jesus' miracles and His teaching about the coming Kingdom.  Jesus taught on this subject often, calling it "the renewal of all things" (Matthew 19:28).  Every miracle Jesus ever performed illustrates the higher reality of what will be ours when the rule of Christ is finally restored -- the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, the dead will rise... and God's creation - everything that has been "in bondage to decay" since the fall here on earth (including all of us who know Jesus as Lord and Savior) will be beautifully restored and renewed... forever!

Bring. it. on!!!

Weekend Update!

Woohoo - I got to buy Wonder Woman and watch it at home this Tuesday!! I really LOVED this movie and may have to write more about it soon...

Our women's Bible study started back up this week, so it was fun getting to see the girls and Penny again. and I'm excited about starting a Lisa Harper study! =)

Two weird car incidents this week. After having a flat tire replaced Monday, the next day, Sheriff Gary asked if he could use my car to jump start his... he removed a little plastic lid and forgot to put it back when he was finished... so when he slammed the hood shut, it got wedged and jammed against that lid. The two of us together couldn't get it to budge at all, so I cautiously drove it to Jiffy Lube (with the car beeping loudly at me the entire way because the hood was open), and three of their guys working together were finally able to get it loose without damaging anything! lol  Then I treated myself to Zoe's Kitchen for all my troubles. lol  All in all, both situations worked out well and no harm was done.

Dad took Jaceman to his very first OSU football game (and the first game of their season) this Thursday!  Jace was so excited, and they had a great time. He got to talk to Pistol Pete and the lady who rides Bullet, and they stopped to see a huge statue of Bumblebee from Transformers on their drive back - those were the major highlights for Jaceman - no football necessary. lol  I was really proud of Dad for using his cell phone and taking a few pics!! =)

This week's Friday night dinner was more low key with several out of town or busy with Labor Day weekend plans. It was me, Tiffany, Jon, and Kristin! =)  We all shared some favorite vacation memories, and the conversation ranged from the Fosters' Disney World trips to my crazy Christian stories to Tiffany's life story to the risk and value of friendships to health and dieting to an ironically lengthy talk about our love of Oreos. lol  It was delightfully deep at points, and funny and memorable at other times!  I think everyone felt seen and heard and encouraged, and I love nights like that!

I made Stouffer's lasagna, caesar salad, and garlic bread - all tasty - makes me happy when everyone gets seconds! And we had Oreo pie for dessert! Jon was excited. LOL

I was pondering the picture wall, and said, "Jon, I don't know if you're actually on the picture wall. Sadness." To which he got up and walked over and did this and said, "I am now!" lolol Mess.

In our Disney convo, this story came up, so I had to find the pic again.  Chet said, "Everyone put your hands up for the picture!" Jeffrey did not listen well. LOL

My lovely new fall chalkboard from Rach - (it's on her front door here - I'm excited to put it up when I get back home).

The back side is leopard print. So fun - I love it!!

Last night, Charlene and Al came over for dinner and a movie. I'd forgotten how good Marco's Pizza is - eeek!

This morning, I went to church with Mom and Dad then I got to meet Elizabeth for a 3-hour lunch at Chelino's.  She's fantastic and awesome, so finding more common ground with her every time we hang out makes me happy!! I sometimes wish they lived in Tulsa... I know they'd fit right in with my group of friends... maybe someday. For now, having another OKC friend is nice!

(I didn't get a pic with her today, but this is a great pic from their LA trip, and her Alabama picture frame makes me laugh - she and Tiffany are both big Alabama fans, which makes me wanna jump on the bandwagon just because I'm such a fan of both of them! lol)

That's all for now. Heading to Planet Fitness tonight, then excited to see the Parrish children tomorrow when they get back from their Branson trip! =)

Happy Labor Day weekend❣