Brooke Fraser - Mystery

I wanna get your words stuck in my head
I wanna touch your soul with mine
I want to always be, be by you led
Always

I wanna know that you hung the stars in the sky
So on lonely nights I would know your presence
I wanna feel your love under my skin, down through my bones

Your love endures forever
Your love changes me
Your love makes me whole, makes me better
Your love endures

I wanna feel the wind and know that you're near me
And see in the seasons your mystery
I wanna feel your love flow through my veins
Pound through my heart

Your love endures forever
Your love changes me
Your love makes me whole, makes me better

I want to know how this could be
Yet your love remains a mystery
That's woven all the way
That's woven all the way
That's woven all the way through me

Your love endures forever
Your love changes me
Your love makes me whole, makes me better
Your love endures



I love this song, so so much.

I feel like there's a reason that Christianity grows the most during times of oppression and persecution.

I am sick of how we have allowed the "American dream" to infiltrate our churches and hearts.

I believe with a firm conviction that the prosperity gospel is a lie, and repulsive to most.

We hear so much these days in our churches and from our pastors that if we are seeking God, He will bless us, and we will live abundantly.  They tell us that He will more than provide for our needs, and because of that people will look at us and say "What God do you serve?!" in awe and astonishment.  Well, as far as I've seen, this isn't the case.

This idea of the prosperity gospel is effective for one thing: growing church numbers.  However, I will be the first to say that this idea of initial appeal became the very thing that I was repulsed by in the church and in my life.

I think that there is something deeper in a true Christianity that draws people.  

Let's look at this for a moment: Jesus' live was not an ideal one - He wasn't rich, and He didn't have everything, and what He did have He was more than willing to give up.  Actually, Jesus gave up HEAVEN when He came here.  He stepped out of eternity and into time, and laid down His live to save us.  So I ask this question: if God would allow His ONLY Son to die to save us that He so desperately loves, why would I not be willing to do the same?  Who's to say that He'll never ask that of us?  I don't think that these things are as far-fetched as one may think.  

I want to live that life.  I was repulsed by the idea that I would live "an abundant life," not because it doesn't sound good, but because when all is said and done, it doesn't matter.  I need something eternal and meaningful to live for.  I need to give my life to something, and as soon as I understood Christianity, I was sure this was it.  NO material possession matters to me, because I get the best thing that I could EVER imagine: I get God.  

I think that this is the reason that during persecution people are drawn to Christianity.  Instead of saying "Wow they're self-righteous AND they have everything!  Go them!" they see Christians give up everything for the sake of Christ, and are curious about what could possibly lead someone to do such a thing.  That is the mystery and the appeal of the gospel that I think so many of us overlook.  I believe so many more people are ready to live for something, for they are seeking the fulfillment that only God can bring.  Once they really know God, nothing else will matter, for all else pales compared to the gloriousness of our Saviour.  

So why don't we live like Jesus lived?  Like the apostles lived?  Like Paul lived?  Like so many martyrs before us lived?  Are we ready to give up everything for the sake of the gospel?  Would be really give our lives so that another might know the God we love?  Because if we fail to live like this, we will not see the growth that the church so desperately needs.  It's up to us to decide.  

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.'" -Matthew 16:24-25

"Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.' 

...

So Jesus answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.'" -Mark 10:21, 29-30

Those daunting persons

Have you ever met someone who changes the way that you think about things, and thus changes you?  This happens to me every once in a while... as it is happening now.

I can't say I love it -- to be honest, I quite liked the way I saw things.  Meeting this person has opened a completely new mindset, and it's difficult to adjust.  It's rare for me to find a person who can influence me this much... because I am fairly set in my opinions.  Not immoveable, but not easily swayed.  How does one person unintentionally gain so much influence?  How can I stop it?!  No, that's not what I want, if the change is for the better.. but it's still not easy.  Altering my thought patters can sometimes be like trying to reshape iron... it takes a lot of heat and a lot of fire - and in the process a lot of stripping and cleansing.  It's uncomfortable.  But in the end, I come out sharper and purer than before... and perhaps that is exactly the reason that God allows this to happen.

However, I find it interesting to consider: we were created to influence one another.  We are not mutually exclusive beings.  We are not made to need God alone.  Essentially, we are dependent on each other to learn and grow.  Our first and most important relationship is the one we have with our Saviour and Lord, but that's not the ONLY relationship we need.  God has put us together for a reason - we need each other.  I do not see the world in the same way that you see it.  Because of this, we will each recognize different things about the world that we live in, and the God that we serve.  Each truth is valuable, and that is why I know that I need each of you.  

The thing that I really don't understand is how some people have a much greater influence on me than others.  How is it that in a few days I can be changed more by one person than in years of friendship with another?  It is an interesting occurrence - one of the mysteries of how God works in my life and in my heart.  For whatever reason this happens, I am undeniably grateful for it.  I cannot stay the same forever -- no, not when I'm being continually transformed into the image of my awesome Father.