Dear readers,
It is with utmost excitement to make the announcement that I have moved this blog to a new server: https://wildheartsgypsysoulshoofbeats.wordpress.com/. Please continue to join me on my journey at this new link.
Grace & peace,
Kingdom Peasant, aka. Carolina Song
Wild Hearts, Gypsy Souls, & Hoofbeats.
My Journey to Shiloh's Mount
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
What I Found Was Freedom
We humans like to fit sin into a box –a box that makes sense
to us, a box that fits our agendas, our feelings, or our own sense of right and
wrong. It’s hard for us to comprehend what exactly God’s holiness entails and
how it should impact our view of ourselves…and of sin and salvation.
Recently, I began attending a women’s Bible study group with
the sole purpose of diving more into the Word of God, challenging my “Bible
knowledge,” and developing relationships with more mature women. Little did I know that my menial
motivations would be surpassed by the Lord’s grand desire to transform me and
provide for me exactly the truth I needed for this time in my life. While His way in this is nothing out of the
ordinary for Him and is only a small sample of His plan and work, I stand
amazed that it offers a picture of how He teaches and prepares us for just what
we need in His most perfect, beautiful timing.
The focus of our Bible study this semester was the book of
Galatians. Before we began, I knew it was one of Paul’s letters and I could
reference a few notes I had previously made in the margins of my Bible there.
But the depth of its truths and its meaningful applications to my life boggled
my mind –and I know we have yet only scratched the surface.
I am sure we
each discovered direct significance very specific to our lives.
What I found was freedom.
What I found was freedom.
Overall a people-pleaser and rule-follower while growing up,
I have many times made decisions on what people in my life would think of me.
My view of myself and even of others was determined by what I or others
determined acceptable. Of course, we are to embrace and consider wisdom and
advice that is shared with us, though often too freely. But our utmost desire
should be to seek the wisdom of the Lord, yearn for a closer walk with Him, and
make Him known to others more and more, finding peace, confidence, and security
in the knowledge that He has already made us approved and worthy before God in
Jesus’ name. Nothing else should matter. Anything else is only temporary with
no lasting significance. Anything else only belongs to this world. Anything
else leads to slavery and a continual cycle of sin.
As a believer in Jesus Christ, I am not called to any form
of bondage. Galatians makes this concept very clear and defined. “For freedom
Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke
of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). I think most of us would agree that sin places us into
slavery and that once saved, we should run from the things that enslave us. Why
would we mock Christ and His sacrifice on the cross by only returning to bonds?
But what I had to realize is that there are many forms of possible slavery for
the Christian. In my achievement-driven mind, the only form of slavery a
Christian could be vulnerable to fall to is what I considered the “real sins,” like
some of those mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21: sexual immorality, sorcery,
jealousy, to name a few. These were obvious. These were at times pointed out by
society and definitely always by churches.
But I was in bondage to another slavery Paul also mentions in Galatians 5. In fact, it is the first that he mentions in this chapter: having a spirit of legalism. The entire book of Galatians revolves around this specific church’s struggle with the false teachers who were pushing for the following of certain rules in order to prove, justify, or gratify salvation. One’s identity was in standards, laws, and fitting in with a certain status quo determined by tradition. The Galatians’ specific struggle was with circumcision. Of course, in our culture, this topic is no longer an issue! However, there are many others today, and I am sure you have already begun to fill in the blank very quickly. These are the ones that divide us, that sever our churches, that tear apart families, that push away unbelievers, and most importantly that rob us from the true Gospel and a flourishing relationship with Christ.
What I have
begun to learn is that it is just as sinful to adopt any form of legalism as it
is to remain in those sins we typically think of. The spirit of legalism
is not just choosing to adopt rules because one believes it will make them a
better Christian, though we are so guilty of this; it also involves imposing
personal standards on other people, judging them if they do not, afraid to
analyze the issue Biblically and in prayer. The spirit of legalism enslaves
because it imposes unimportant limitations in decision-making and in the
leading of the Holy Spirit, and blinds us to recognizing some gray areas. “For
in Jesus Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything,
but only faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6).
Am I telling you to rid your life of all convictions and
standards? No! Of course not! “Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity
for the flesh” (Gal. 5:13). We are to run from sin! I have come to believe,
however, that we should be careful on how we set our standards: rather than
through fear of popular word or sets of tradition, we should carefully determine
them by the leading of the Spirit and the reading of His unfailing Word: “But I
say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”
(Gal. 5:16). Through His earthly ministry, Jesus respected tradition but did
not live limited by it. The same went for those who followed Him. In fact,
there are countless examples throughout the Gospels! When we set our standards, we should seek our hearts
for our motives: are we simply following tradition or hoping to make ourselves
feel or look better or accepted...or out of Spirit-filled love?
We have already been accepted by GOD if we have believed in
Jesus Christ and begun a relationship with Him. When God looks at us, He sees
Christ –no blame, shame, or any tint of sin: just holiness. Once we are saved,
we should desire more and more to experience the transformation of the Holy
Spirit; but there is absolutely nothing we can do to make God love or accept us
more or less. It is done. It is finished. The struggle is gone. And so should
our slavery, in whatever shape or form it can still entrap us while still in
this world. “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by
God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary
principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?” (Gal. 4:9)
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Rock of My Gypsy Soul
As I near the peak of a mountain again, I can only reflect
once more on the faithfulness of the Lord. All the way He has led me, proving
me even more strongly that when He calls He provides, He transforms, and He
never leaves. He reinforces my stronghold, making my feet like hinds’ feet, and
directing my heart. He has shown me again that He is the Solid Rock to this
gypsy soul of mine. He woos my restless spirit and secures my wild heart. Some
of you may know about the drastic educational path change I took about two
years ago now. While it sounded so foreign from the way I started, I can state
with confidence that no, He hasn’t really changed my calling, nor has He kept
me from being who I really am. Rather, he has freed my true identity,
entrusting me only more firmly with my calling.
When I first started this graduate degree, I worried because I didn’t really want to do it, and its assumed target career was not necessarily the path I would have gladly chosen. I didn’t know why God was calling me to this endeavor. I only pursued it because I knew firmly that was the next step God wanted me to take –I also knew that if just a closer walk with Him was my reward from the many hours of study and sacrifice, I would have reaped the full benefits of obedience. Just knowing Him more would make this part of the journey worth it –because that’s what life is really about.
Oh, dear reader, I still do not fully know the plan, the
next step, or my life course…and I am about to graduate in a month! But I know
now that knowing everything is not the goal of life. Daily dedicating to
knowing God and making Him known to others more and more is. I also now rest
secure that God IS in charge of every piece of my life puzzle, planning to use
every bit how and when He sees fit. HE is Creator, Author, Painter –and ALL His
work is perfect and beautiful –even through my imperfections, impatience, and
doubts, or those of other people that may all try to stand in the way of His
sovereignty. But that’s the thing about His sovereignty: nothing can oppose it. I now know better than
ever before that I can rest and let my heart, mind, and soul be quiet, though I
don’t always choose too. As I write this, I am reminded of Paul’s words, “Not that I
have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my
own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (Phil. 3:12).
I stand grateful for my fellow mountain climbers because
blessed is this gypsy soul who has them to push me to fall back on my Solid
Rock. I also stand amazed at how the Lord answers prayers, though certainly not
always in the ways we think: yet His provided pieces of the puzzle fit so
perfectly. He provides. He secures. He transforms. Yes, He leads me to the Rock
that is higher than I am (Psalm 61:2). What I learned through this degree is
more than just a piece of paper but exactly what my heart truly desired: a
closer walk with Him, nearer to Him than before, more breath-taken by His
nature and more confident of His truth, plan, and faithfulness.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
The Proverbs 31 Mystery (Part 2)
After identifying yesterday as Christ being the center of
Proverbs 31, what then can He turn us into if we surrender daily our hearts,
minds, and souls to Him?
The heart of her
husband does safely trust in her, so that he will have no need of spoil (Proverbs
31:11). I dare say that trustworthiness is a direct result of being worth far
above rubies –of being virtuous. Those who are virtuous are trustworthy. I
would even say all of the other verses of Proverbs 31 are examples of this
trustworthiness that results from this virtue. Humbling thought, isn’t it?
She will do him good
and not evil all the days of her life (v. 12).
When we turn to the Lord and let Him renew our minds, He
turns conniving deceivers and lie-believers of daughters of Eve into
trustworthy, virtuous, confident inheritors of the King. People begin to trust
us because Jesus works in and through us, becoming blessings to those around
us. [Jesus makes us] perfect in every
good work to do His will, working in [us] that which is well-pleasing in His
sight, through Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:21).
There are countless applications to Proverbs 31:11-12! From being
a helpmeet to a husband, to turning the world to hope in the Gospel to building
up girls in their identity in Christ, our advice and leadership is trustworthy,
especially when out of a quiet heart (I Peter 3:4). My French Bible version
uses the words “s’assure en elle,” which means the husband finds “assurance” in
his Proverbs 31 wife. Believing women bring assurance and affirm others. They
choose to “speak the truth in love” (Ephe. 4:15).
He gives us a reliable work ethic.
Regardless of her position, this Proverbs 31 woman
transformed by the power of God does what needs to be done. Why? Because now
her work is about bringing glory to God (Col. 3:22-24), and her sure reward
comes from Him. What she has been given, she is responsible for before God. It has been given to her by God to use,
in His grace and strength for His Kingdom (Matt. 25:14-30). Whatever she does,
single or married, she has become a manager of it before God.
She seeks wool, and
flax, and works willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships: she
brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is yet night, and gives meat
to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considers a field, and buys
it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard (Prov. 31: 13-16).
She finds and looks for ways to take better care of what is
under her responsibility. Going out of her way, she is a good steward, becomes
generous, and can be trusted to make decisions that impact others. In this
passage, it says the woman bought a field and made the decision about it. Clearly
her husband trusted her to make that choice and gave her that freedom. This
woman was trustworthy.
A Proverbs 31 woman is a dedicated hard worker, and what she
doesn’t know how to do, she figures out how…and does it. She is clever,
resourceful –characteristics which I think impact tremendously her generosity.
She knows that if she were to give away “too much,” she could work to replace
what she gave away. In some ways, she works to give away. She is of course only
this way because Jesus is transforming her and giving her grace and strength as
she renews her mind. Wherefore…give
diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things,
you will never fall (II Pet. 1:10).
He supplies joie de vivre.
Proverbs 17-22 are very much related to verses 13-16 and
seem to work hand-in-hand: She girds her
loins with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her
merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night. She lays her hands to
the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretches out her hand to the
poor; yes, she reaches forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the
snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She
makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Because Jesus is making her more and more into a trustworthy
hard worker, He is also filling her more and more with a pure and true
enjoyment of life, regardless of her situation. She is constantly trying to
make the most of it, being filled more and more by His joy and hope. This does
not mean things are always easy for her; neither does it mean she is frivolous,
careless, and wasteful. No. Because she is a hard worker, she knows she can “afford”
to be generous and enjoy giving; she also knows she can “pamper” her own
accordingly, wisely within her means. She can truly enjoy her life, regardless
of her situation, rich or poor, in sickness or in health, in abundance or in
famine (see I Tim. 6:6 and Jer. 29:1-14). She can claim the following with more
confidence year by year: Not that I speak
in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to
be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in
all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and
to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil.
4:11-13).
He moves others to respect her.
Her husband is known
in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes fine linen,
and sells it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are
her clothing; and she will rejoice in time to come…Her children arise up, and
call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her (Proverbs 31:
23-25).
Because of her behavior and view of herself in Christ, she
is respected throughout the community. Respect is often extended to those who
associate with her directly, such as her husband, who can’t help but be
impacted by her if he isn’t respectable himself. She supports him and brings
out the best of him, giving him respect. In some ways, one has to respect to be
respected. Those who dislike you will be blown away by the respect you give. This
concept makes me think of Proverbs 16:7: When
a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with
him. A woman filled with Christ may not always be liked for her stands and
God-glorifying choices and decisions, but Christ will ensure she is respected
one way or another eventually. People will remember her for her Christlikeness.
He creates in her a pure heart.
According to Proverbs 31:26-27 & 29, she reflects purity
in heart…because to have lasting and impacting actions and words as described
in these verses, Christ will have been transforming her heart into a pure one
(Matt. 15:18). Of course, this brings us back to Romans 12:1-2: it takes Jesus
to transform us from the inside out when we commit to letting Him renew our
minds. After studying the Beatitudes for a couple weeks, I was able to
distinguish a link between Proverbs 31 and Matthew 5:8: no wonder this woman of
God is called blessed in Proverbs 31:28 –because “blessed are the pure in
heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). That is respectable. That
brings true “joie de vivre.” That encourages a strong, God-centered
work ethic –because everything becomes for the glory of God. That creates
a trustworthy woman. That results in a virtuous woman worth far more
than rubies. Yeah!
So we want to be Proverbs 31 women? Let us dedicate ourselves to spending time at Jesus’ feet, developing our relationship with Him, engulfing every Word from Him, and letting His power transform us. We will never be the same.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
The Proverbs 31 Mystery
How many of you ever felt overwhelmed when reading the
famous Proverbs 31 passage on the description of a godly woman? How many of you
lost confidence in your abilities and felt ashamed of your heart? How many of
you just suddenly felt very sinful?
Well, let me argue that Proverbs 31:10-31 is not really about you
and me.
Who can find a
virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies…Favor is deceitful, and
beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her
of the fruit of her hands: and let her own works praise her in the gates (Prov.
31: 10, 30-31).
Virtue is the true measure of a woman. A virtuous woman is
priceless and timeless. Her impact lasts and reaches into eternity, and her
goals and her heart live for and rest in the unseen, motivated by Christ, His
love, and the pursuit of His truth and its spreading. But a woman cannot be
virtuous on her own: it is impossible and goes against her very own sin nature.
Romans 3:9-18 is pretty strong about this: NO ONE is righteous –not one.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 and Isaiah 64:6 point that anything “good” we attempt is
still flawed, imperfect, and of no eternal worth.
So where is a woman’s hope if she desires to be truly
virtuous, eternally impacting the lives of others?
IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE
Jesus Christ makes her virtuous. Even the famous “Proverbs
31” passage points us directly to the heart of the Gospel: humanity’s depravity
and Jesus Christ’ reconciliation and transformation of us. All Scripture points
to the Gospel, even a woman’s desire for virtue and eternal impact –and even a
woman’s lack of ability and accomplishment in this department.
NO ONE can find a virtuous woman apart from Christ.
But without faith it
is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
It can be easy to be overwhelmed by this “Proverbs 31 list”…because
it IS impossible to be this woman without faith in Jesus Christ. But
as we let Him renew our minds (Romans 12:2), we can become her. In fact, we can
become more: we can become like Christ.
If the life of a “Proverbs 31 woman” could be summarized, I
would say one accurate way would be that she lives for the unseen. While other
people may see her work and its immediate fruit at times, her heart and its
goals lie in the unseen. Rather than focusing on wordly favor and beauty so much,
she
pursues the Lord, and she is motivated by this relationship she has
with Him. He transforms her mind so that she works with this in ambition: her
true treasure is in heaven…and this is what she will be known and praised for,
if not here on earth, definitely in heaven. Even when everything seems to be
crumbling around her, she has hope, joy, and strength because she is focused on
the unseen (II Cor. 4:8-18). While we
look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:
for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen
are eternal (II Cor. 4:18).
Therefore we are always confident (II Cor. 5:6).
And this throws us right back to faith in Jesus Christ (Heb. 11:11). Matthew 6:19-34 only reinforces this: our treasure should be in heaven, and the secret to accomplishing that goal is to seek God first (v. 33). He has now become our number one priority –in everything. That is the secret to a “Proverbs 31 woman,” who really is just the sanctification work of Christ in her life as she responds to His daily call to follow and pursue Him. John Piper puts it this way: “Keep your hearts in heaven.” This is how Proverbs 31:25 can go so far to say in some translations: she laughs without fear of the future –not in carelessness but in full confidence in the Lord of her heart –and of her eternity.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Abiding -Lord, Help Our Unbelief
“I am restless until I rest in You.” These words by St.
Augustine firmly tie in much of the truths I have been hearing in church
recently and challenging the very core of my life: the secret to life in Christ
is truly resting and abiding in Him. As believers in and followers of Jesus
Christ, we know we are promised eternal security, and this truth gives us peace
towards the outcome of our lives. Yet, sometimes, it can be easy to feel
restless in the today, in the here and now, and in the seemingly small, yet so
tedious things we must do today. In our restlessness, we become so vulnerable
to discontentment and we start running to anything, hoping and looking in them for
peace, joy, and rest that only Christ can bring. We become so susceptible to
attacks from the world, Satan, and our own selves.
We aren’t resting in
Jesus.
Grounding every part of our hearts, minds, and souls in
Christ on a daily basis sets the foundation for abiding in Christ and enjoying
His rest we are promised every minute of our sometimes boring lives, regardless
of our situation or position. While it is okay to look forward to the seasons
we hope to come in our lives, we must also realize that part of fully trusting
Jesus is waiting with a thankful heart. Charles Spurgeon explains this balance
with the following: “[Those in Christ] have a laudable desire to make sure of
[their] God-given talents and to find for [themselves] a position in which
[they] may do more good to [their] fellowmen, but [they are] not unrestful,
anxious, fretful, grieving, or grasping. [They are] contented and thankful.”
There is joy in embracing the current season and position we are in because we
know that God wants to use us wherever we are –and, as pointed out in church
this past Sunday, there is absolutely no substitute for His joy. It is easy to
daydream about the next season we hope to come; but it is just as easy to try
to find comfort and satisfaction in this vision. Yet our preferred future
should not and cannot provide us with the rest we long for. Without abiding in
Christ today, our plans are but feeble attempts to feed our hungry souls,
grasping for anything that can quench our longings and try to make ourselves
feel better. Soon we realize that even in the things we love most, we absolutely
need Jesus.
Only Christ can
satisfy.
Dear readers, I don’t know what you are facing today. But I want you to remember that no matter how fierce the temptation, trials, or lies you face, you are truly called, uniquely beloved, and completely kept only by Jesus Christ (Jude 1:1). Just as you can only find eternal security in Him, you can only find rest, peace, and joy in this life through Him. John 15, straight from the mouth and heart of Christ, challenges us: “Abide in [Christ]…As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in [Christ]…for without [Christ], you can do nothing.”
For without Christ,
you can do nothing.
Try all you want, it’s true. I've tried it. And I know you
have too.
How then, shall we
find rest and the answers we truly need?
The secret is abiding in Christ. This beautiful phrase means
we are spending time with the Lord, letting Him renew our minds by reading His
Word, and leaving all our burdens to Him through prayer. As He begins to
transform our hearts and minds, we are able to fight off the lies that attack
us constantly either from other people or our own selves -from negativity, to
hopelessness, to sin, to false teaching. Jesus begins to truly become our
everything, enabling us to “take every thought captive” (II Cor. 10:5),
becoming “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37), lighting the world with our
testimony (Matt. 5:14-16), and truly, purely, joyfully abiding in Jesus (John
15:1-11). This is rest. This is His promise.
Lord, we believe, help
our unbelief (Mark 9:24).
Thursday, January 15, 2015
That I Should Choose
Pretty quickly in life we start realizing that we all have choices to make –and we better make good ones, because they all have consequences. When I worked at camp, our leadership always sent us off on our free week-ends with the slogan, “Make good choices! Remember whom you represent!” But how can we do just that, make good choices?
I just wrapped up a study on weight loss and exercise
through a Biblical perspective, and I was amazed by how many lessons could be applied
to life in general. One of these was on decision-making. In the study’s
context, decision-making revolved around food choices. But in life,
decision-making revolves around…everything. So I put together a little “discernment
test” from my study and reflection that we can apply to just that: everything.
- · Develop a habit of continually renewing your mind
Romans 12:1-2 is pretty clear on that: how do we become more
like Christ? We fill our minds with His Words which are found in Scripture. The
more we become like Christ, the more we think as He should and in accordance to
His will. In other words, it will become easier to discern wisely in
decision-making. Roy Disney once said that “It’s not hard to make decisions
once you know what your values are.” This is true, but we all know how quickly
Satan likes to have us forget what our values are! One way to fight him in this
area is to renew our minds daily because part of renewing your mind is
discovering who you are in Christ now. As we discover this new identity, we
become filled with a desire to protect it, motivating us for wholesome choices.
- · Ask yourself if this decision is beneficial
When faced with a decision, we should honestly ask ourselves
if it will benefit us, our testimony, or even the spreading of the Gospel -rather than if it is “lawful” to us. We have
freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1), and we so quickly like to claim this liberty! But
we also forget that we are not to abuse this liberty or use it to damage Christ’s
name or others’ outlook towards the Gospel (I Peter 2:16). One way to test if
it is truly beneficial is to consider if it is placing us into another kind of
bondage (I Cor. 6:12). For example, will giving in to this food temptation only
lead to my slavery to it?
- · Love God and love people
Matthew 22:36-40 explains that the greatest commandment is
love for God and love for people, so does this decision reflect that love? Is
it purely, sincerely motivated by this love? We are to exemplify Christ in all
we do –and Christ was “obedient unto death” (Phil. 2:8) because He loved His
heavenly Father and He loved people. Our decisions should reflect that kind of
love –and we cannot love like that without His help and without renewing our
minds.
“Trusting in the Lord means every decision you make is done
with Him in mind.” Bernita Weston’s words echo loudly as I finish this post. Our
decisions should reflect our trust in Jesus! Rather than motivated by legalism
or personal achievement, our hearts can now reach for prayerful choices led by
the Holy Spirit and His Word. Finally, we should remember and find encouraging
comfort in the truth that He PROMISES that He will keep in perfect peace those
whose mind is focused on Him (Isaiah 26:3), even in the midst of tough,
fog-immersed decision-making.
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