The Big Cover Up

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Published: Monday, 15 April 2019 16:51

Written by Bethany Looyenga

Blessed and Happy and Favored are those whose lawless acts have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered up and completely buried.

Romans 4:7 (Amplified)

Recently, I received a big cozy blanket from a friend. It has quickly become a favorite of mine. I like to wrap in it, completely covered, warm, and cozy. It's a beautiful red color, with white on the inside, and it's very soft. It reminds me of a dream I had several years ago where I was standing in an open field with snow all around me. Jesus came walking out of the forest and walked up behind me and covered me with a beautiful red coat. He then came to the front of me and put big white wooly boots on my feet, then he gently took my hand and led me down the path.  It was a very significant and incredible dream for me.  I felt Blessed, Happy, and Favored. This is an amazing feeling when one has been burdened with lawless acts. 

Jesus is our Cover.  From the very beginning of time, He has been tenderly bringing the big cover up to our lives.  When Adam and Eve indulged in the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they felt immediate shame over their sinful actions.  They felt so horrible about what they had done, they hid.  Suddenly, they could see more and their nakedness was embarrassing to them. Before they met up with God that evening, they tried to make clothes for themselves out of leaves. When God saw them, he had compassion on them, and he made clothes for them himself. In Genesis 3:21 it says "The Lord made tunics of [animal] skins for adam and his wife and clothed them."  He COVERED them.

Much later, when the Israelites were wandering through the desert, God sent a cloud cover to lead them. "The [presence of the] Lord was going before them by day in a pillar (column) of cloud to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night." Genesis 13:21

Just like the warmth and safety of my red blanket covering me up, God does this in a much bigger way.  His covering buries my flaws and sins and leads me day and night into His righteousness! This is a big sigh of relief, because I cannot cover myself, I cannot bury my lawless acts, only God does this.  

Are you walking under the Big Cover Up today? Do you know how forgiven you are? Let him cover you and know his blessings, happiness and favor today!

Life Source

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Published: Tuesday, 09 April 2019 16:40

Written by Bethany Looyenga

We live in such a big, big world, and yet so many feel alone, really alone.  So, what is going on?  How do we walk through each day interacting with people at work and at home, yet there’s disconnection?  In Proverbs 12:3 a vivid picture is painted: You can’t find firm footing in a swamp but life rooted in God stands firm.

Have any of you been in a swamp before? Once you get in it’s very hard to move. It can be hard to see as well; it’s murky.  And, with each step that you try to make forward, it feels like you are sinking further down. There is nothing solid to hold onto.

This is what happens in life when we start a relentless search for meaning in things other than God. The result is being alone and disconnected, in other words being in a swamp without firm footing.

I’ve done this.  I’ve tried to grab onto things, people, money, knowledge, tasks, abilities, etc only to discover that if my footing is not rooted in God, deep down I’m alone and disconnected.  Why? because I’m standing on the wrong things for my security. God has to be my Source.

So, I began to ask myself the question, “If I didn’t have ________ would I still be okay?” I worked through the list, and I still work through it, until the only thing I’m not okay without is my Source, God.  The rest is not firm footing.

Where are you placing your feet today? Who is your source?

When You Have Good Soil

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Published: Thursday, 04 April 2019 12:13

Written by Bethany Looyenga

But the seed in the good earth--these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.

Luke 8:15

One of my favorite things as a child was to roam my Grandfathers garden.  He had a very large plot of land where he spent the majority of his time tilling the earth and planting seeds.  His harvest of beautiful vegetables and lush fruits were always free for the taking. I especially enjoyed the red ripe tomotoes right off the vine.  

The soil in my Grandfather's garden was very good!

In the Bible when Jesus talks about good soil He is describing an honest and good heart.  The seed that is planted in our honest and good heart is God's Word. A heart that is honest and good has a trusting relationship with Jesus, and the ability to soak in His Word comes quickly, and holds on to it with the belief that good fruit will grow.  What is some of the fruit that is produced? Faith, perseverance, self-control, love, and joy etc

Good soil does not waste the Word that is planted, but examines everything carefully, ponders it, and meditates upon it. The Word that is so deeply planted in the good soil grows and gives great hope and conviction for things yet to come.

How is the soil of your heart today? If it is not healty, rich, and beautiful then the seeds that God plants will not be able to grow, they will die. Just like my Grandfather's garden needed rich nutritions soil to grow an abundant garden, we too need the same.

source: Havilah Cunnington/Radical Growth

When Your Soil is Thorny

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Published: Friday, 29 March 2019 05:21

Written by Bethany Looyenga

Other seed fell amoung thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

Matthew 13:7

Changing can be a hard process. Has God ever asked you to change something in your life, and you've been hesitant to let go? Slow to obey? I have.  It's not easy to let go of old habits, and when God asks us to change our ways there are times that change is not complete. When this happens, our old habits and sinful ways become hidden deep down inside of us, rather than renewed and transformed.  This is thorny soil.  Everything looks clean on the outside, but deep down where the roots are it is not cleared out, and weeds are still growing.

Some things may look harmless so we continue to hang on, but the key to ridding your heart of the thorns that crowd out healthy roots is to obey God when he tells you to leave that habit behind. 

This is what a thorny heart may look like:

-You happily receive God's Word and the process of renewal, but it is not complete

-You start out well, but your ability to follow through spirituallly is poor

-There are things that God has asked you to walk away from ( addictions, relationships, sin) yet your response to God has been slow, or you simply won't do it.

What are some of the thorns that might be crowding your life today? Will today be the day you offer your entire heart in obedience to him?

sources: Havilah Cunnintonn/Radical Growth