http://beckyherbst.com/beckysblog.cfm Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:40:00 GMT http://bandzoogle.com http://beckyherbst.com/beckysblog.cfm?feature=291938&postid=224208 Grace. There’s that church word people throw around so freely. But what does it really mean? God’s grace. Amazing grace. Here’s how I finally made sense of it. One day I had my bible open and I was reading Psalm 139. It was reminding me about how God made us. It said in verse 13, “You created me in my inmost being.” As I thought about that I determined that my “inmost being” must be the deepest part of me. That’s the part that no one else knows about, the part that I don’t even fully understand. But what I began to realize is that God knows that part of me; he understands it because he created it. He knows me deeply; he knows me completely. I went on reading and came to verse 16, which said, “Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” What that means is that before you or I ever took a breath, God looked at every moment of our lives. Now think about that for a second. I don’t know about you, but that makes me shudder. It doesn’t bother me that God looked at all of my good moments, I like to look to at my good moments. But it says He looked at “every moment” which means He looked at all of my bad moments too, and my ugly, disgusting moments. As I was sitting there feeling repulsed and ashamed here is the thought that grabbed my heart: after he had seen everything He said, “Let this life be born.” Wow. Let that sink in for a moment. In spite of all that He had seen He saw value, he saw purpose and he said, “I’ve got a plan for this life.” (Jeremiah 29:11) To me that is a picture of God’s grace. The dictionary defines grace as, “the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God”. If you ever struggle with your self-worth or think that your life is some mistake, remember this truth: God saw it all before it ever happened. That’s amazing grace. ~ Becky “You created me in my inmost being.” As I thought about that I determined that my “inmost being” must be the deepest part of me. That’s the part that no one else knows about, the part that I don’t even fully understand. But what I began to realize is that God knows that part of me; he understands it because he created it. He knows me deeply; he knows me completely.

I went on reading and came to verse 16, which said, “Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” What that means is that before you or I ever took a breath, God looked at every moment of our lives. Now think about that for a second. I don’t know about you, but that makes me shudder. It doesn’t bother me that God looked at all of my good moments, I like to look to at my good moments. But it says He looked at “every moment” which means He looked at all of my bad moments too, and my ugly, disgusting moments. As I was sitting there feeling repulsed and ashamed here is the thought that grabbed my heart: after he had seen everything He said, “Let this life be born.” Wow. Let that sink in for a moment. In spite of all that He had seen He saw value, he saw purpose and he said, “I’ve got a plan for this life.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

To me that is a picture of God’s grace. The dictionary defines grace as, “the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God”. If you ever struggle with your self-worth or think that your life is some mistake, remember this truth: God saw it all before it ever happened. That’s amazing grace.

~ Becky

]]> Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:40:00 GMT 4657DE28EDD36D56B4DA506CA395A471 http://beckyherbst.com/beckysblog.cfm?feature=291938&postid=179239 As with any testing or fire I've ever had to walk through, I think the last few miles are some of the hardest. This is often where I struggle with wanting to give up or, as some would say, throw in the towel. I think that’s partly because I'm so weary of the road I've been on.  Something else I have noticed is that as I get closer to the end the intensity usually lets up and I begin to feel the wounds that the trial has brought. As I assess these wounds, feel my strength leaving me, and admit I'm ready to quit I am reminded by an ever so loving God, that He never grows weary. (Is 40:28) There are so many sides to our amazing God and He knows everything we need. At this point He’s not out in front leading me, fighting the flames, and hollering back, “Be strong and courageous” (Josh 1:6). He knows every ounce of courage and strength has left me. Instead, He slows His pace and begins to walk beside me. As He senses my weakness He lifts me into His powerful arms and gently whispers, “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10a). There are times to fight the battle strong, and our human spirit does that well. But there are also times, when you have given everything to the battle, to simply stop and let God carry you to the end. “I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted among the earth.” Psalm 46:10b ~ Becky
There are so many sides to our amazing God and He knows everything we need. At this point He’s not out in front leading me, fighting the flames, and hollering back, “Be strong and courageous” (Josh 1:6). He knows every ounce of courage and strength has left me. Instead, He slows His pace and begins to walk beside me. As He senses my weakness He lifts me into His powerful arms and gently whispers, “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10a).

There are times to fight the battle strong, and our human spirit does that well. But there are also times, when you have given everything to the battle, to simply stop and let God carry you to the end.

“I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted among the earth.” Psalm 46:10b

~ Becky

]]> Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:40:00 GMT A389D6DFDCAB46C43385F121C64C711E http://beckyherbst.com/beckysblog.cfm?feature=291938&postid=132772 I have been camping in Romans 8 these days and have been so encouraged by these words: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him . . ." (Rom 8:28). It goes on to ask some great questions: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (vs 31) "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?" (vs 33). And finally the question that is so familiar from that passage: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (vs 35). All of these words are wonderful but for me the real jewel is the verse that is hidden amongst all these great questions - verse 34, "Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." The thought that Jesus himself is sitting beside God and talking to Him on my behalf absolutely blows me away. No wonder we can dare to ask such powerful questions. On the rough days when life is just plain hard I need to remember that in ALL things God is working things out for my good. And as He works it out, Jesus is sitting beside Him putting in a good word for me. THAT is amazing. What a gift. What love. THAT is something to celebrate this season. ~ Becky "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him . . ." (Rom 8:28). It goes on to ask some great questions: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (vs 31) "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?" (vs 33). And finally the question that is so familiar from that passage: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (vs 35). All of these words are wonderful but for me the real jewel is the verse that is hidden amongst all these great questions - verse 34, "Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

The thought that Jesus himself is sitting beside God and talking to Him on my behalf absolutely blows me away. No wonder we can dare to ask such powerful questions. On the rough days when life is just plain hard I need to remember that in ALL things God is working things out for my good. And as He works it out, Jesus is sitting beside Him putting in a good word for me. THAT is amazing. What a gift. What love.

THAT is something to celebrate this season.
~ Becky

]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:29:16 GMT 8F520C4D7158DF55249751332F518D54 http://beckyherbst.com/beckysblog.cfm?feature=291938&postid=79753 "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.” Isaiah 30:18 What is grace? It is receiving something we don’t deserve. Why are there so many people walking around today trusting God for their eternity but not living in His love today? Because they don’t believe they deserve it. More people deal with this problem than we even realize. God wants to give us His love; we want to earn it. I don’t think most us mind receiving it once we feel we’ve earned it. We are skeptical about receiving anything that’s undeserved. Our society preaches that you have to earn it. It’s the way our world functions. You work hard, you get paid. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. But there are cautions that come with that way of thinking too. There is no free lunch. Be careful. There’s always a string attached. And, what’s the gimmick? You know what? With God there is no gimmick. There is a free lunch. Talk about a transforming thought. Paul, in Romans 12:2 says God wants to change the way we think. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” On the surface this sounds like simple stuff. Stuff we all know. But it’s not simple. Our minds are ingrained in the way we think. God wants to change that. In order to do that the first thing we have to do is get God straight. God loves us, more than we will ever know. We cannot earn it. But oh how we try. I remember when my kids were little. If they wanted to show me how they did something and they had me as a captive audience they would try and outdo each other to impress me. I didn’t love them anymore; I just got a kick out of watching them. And when they were in trouble and had my captive attention, I may have wanted to strangle them, but I didn’t love them any less. They knew that because they knew me. They knew that love and they grew up in the security of that love. We have God’s captive attention. There is nothing good or bad that we can do to change it. Are we “growing up” in the security of that love? “. . . it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.” Romans 12:3, The Message Bible Let your mind be changed. ~ Becky "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.” Isaiah 30:18

What is grace? It is receiving something we don’t deserve. Why are there so many people walking around today trusting God for their eternity but not living in His love today? Because they don’t believe they deserve it. More people deal with this problem than we even realize. God wants to give us His love; we want to earn it. I don’t think most us mind receiving it once we feel we’ve earned it. We are skeptical about receiving anything that’s undeserved. Our society preaches that you have to earn it. It’s the way our world functions. You work hard, you get paid. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. But there are cautions that come with that way of thinking too. There is no free lunch. Be careful. There’s always a string attached. And, what’s the gimmick? You know what? With God there is no gimmick. There is a free lunch.

Talk about a transforming thought. Paul, in Romans 12:2 says God wants to change the way we think. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” On the surface this sounds like simple stuff. Stuff we all know. But it’s not simple. Our minds are ingrained in the way we think. God wants to change that. In order to do that the first thing we have to do is get God straight. God loves us, more than we will ever know. We cannot earn it. But oh how we try. I remember when my kids were little. If they wanted to show me how they did something and they had me as a captive audience they would try and outdo each other to impress me. I didn’t love them anymore; I just got a kick out of watching them. And when they were in trouble and had my captive attention, I may have wanted to strangle them, but I didn’t love them any less. They knew that because they knew me. They knew that love and they grew up in the security of that love. We have God’s captive attention. There is nothing good or bad that we can do to change it. Are we “growing up” in the security of that love?

“. . . it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.” Romans 12:3, The Message Bible

Let your mind be changed.
~ Becky

]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:26:47 GMT DD34C6941A282C755C1600152997F635 http://beckyherbst.com/beckysblog.cfm?feature=291938&postid=47800 Psalm 18 is a favorite Psalm of mine. It was written by David after he had defeated Saul and his army. David’s heart was overflowing with praise and thankfulness because of what God had done in his life. As I take in his words, I am reminded that God goes to battle and fights for the victories in my life too. I love reading the entire Psalm, but verse 35 always stops me. It says, “You stoop down to make me great”. Wow. The God of all creation, the King above all kings, bends down not just to help you and I but to make us great. Reread that sentence, take that truth in and let it settle for a moment. His plans for us exceed anything and everything we could ever imagine! (Eph 3:20) These plans though aren’t just to make our lives “sweet”, but to also sweeten the lives of those around us. Just as God did with David, his purpose in building our lives up with blessings is for the overflow to reach others. Psalm 119:117 “May my lips overflow with praise.” Matthew 12:34 “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” 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.” What do these verses look like in your life?   In today’s hope deprived world it is so important that we keep our eyes open to the blessings and the victories that God is giving us.  Today, may you not miss a single one.  Take each blessing in, let Him fill you up, and then sweeten the life of someone else. ~ Becky “You stoop down to make me great”.

Wow. The God of all creation, the King above all kings, bends down not just to help you and I but to make us great. Reread that sentence, take that truth in and let it settle for a moment.

His plans for us exceed anything and everything we could ever imagine! (Eph 3:20) These plans though aren’t just to make our lives “sweet”, but to also sweeten the lives of those around us. Just as God did with David, his purpose in building our lives up with blessings is for the overflow to reach others.

Psalm 119:117 “May my lips overflow with praise.”

Matthew 12:34 “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

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.”

What do these verses look like in your life?   In today’s hope deprived world it is so important that we keep our eyes open to the blessings and the victories that God is giving us.  Today, may you not miss a single one.  Take each blessing in, let Him fill you up, and then sweeten the life of someone else.

~ Becky



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