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Winter and Grace

@winterandgrace

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A Little Note with Great Hope
Writer @skye.jr

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The term is undervalued and overlooked. It is often associated with poor fortune or great lack. If the word were to be used today, most of us would deny or reject being labeled as one - as it is to be seen as low in position. If we were (at any point of time in history) to be identified as this, we would have been tormented, slandered or ridiculed. So who in their right mind, would choose to be one? Who would willingly choose to be a servant?

One man freely did.

The concept and narrative of being a servant was flipped upside down when one servant alone was born a leader - a gatherer of people, a speaker to nations, a ruler of kings on earth (Revelation 19:16). The word ‘servant’ would now have meaning, status and deep purpose because of him. It would have value and be worthy of praise; as Matthew 23:11 states, “The greatest among you will be your servant”. If we are to be placed in a position that we see as low, God sees it as high. God redeemed and attached a kind of beauty to the word ‘servant’: because he was one.

God shows us that servanthood is to be desired - a trait that we all ought to adopt, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:25). So, our “…attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness…” (Philippians 2:5-7). God willingly chose to enter into this world as a servant. He could have chosen any other form and yet, he chose to be lowly; He chose to show us great humility in great leadership.

You see, He was one of us, but yet, so much more. Jesus came to show us a perfect example of service. To put on full display the great pleasure he takes in serving. If we are to learn anything from this, it’s that if we want to lead well, we must first learn to serve well; and that if the God of the Universe can come to earth in complete humility to serve others, then surely must we.

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The year is coming to an end, and that means another year of focusing on the unseen coming to a close and another one just beginning.

This past year was one of Honour - intentionally chosen to gain strength in boundaries; to build discipline amid despair; and to find wisdom in choosing joy. It was one of humility and transparency, just as the previous six have been.

Pursuing the unseen has brought about great transformation; and also a great expectation that every year is of even greater growth. And this one to come will be of no difference in pursuing Gentleness - intentionally chosen to lead with compassion; to surrender the need to force our way through life; and to accept that His ways are far greater than ours.

Gentleness is softness in action. It is strength under control. It is the ability to stay calm in the midst of adversity. It is one piece of the Fruit of the Spirit that God calls us into. It is a characteristics of His. He says in Matthew 11:29, “take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart…”. Gentleness is one way to practically express His loving nature.

God knows what is best for us. He reveals this in the remains of Matthew 11:29 after learning about His character by saying, “…and you will find rest for your souls”. Indicating that when we listen (or more accurately said in Hebrew as ‘shema’ - which means to hear, obey and take action) to His teachings by delighting in Him, He lovingly provides us with a part of Him.

You see, He wants us to want Him because He is what is best for us and He knows that the only way to reconcile what was once lost, is through and in Him. ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:21-22‬ explains this by saying, “once you were alienated from God and were enemies…but now he has reconciled you by Christ’s body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation”.

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📸 coz i’m lookin’ atchu: @katieheath85 @rmh1989 X

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Surrendered 🙌🏻 #HogInHeaven #AllHailTheKing

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I hope that we press into God and not run away from Him at this time. I hope that we move closer to The God of All Comfort, to The Prince of Peace and to The God who loves to hear from His children.
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When the guaranteed difficult times come, who do you become? For me, I become someone I don’t like. I become someone who unhealthily internalises everything. I go into control mode. I rely on everything that I can do to change things. Then eventually, I implode and occasionally have panic attacks where I can’t breathe for periods at a time. When difficult times come, I become someone who thinks about God as an afterthought.
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In the beautifully written Corinthians, Paul talks about suffering well - if anyone knows about suffering (other than Jesus), it is Paul. Paul talks about three times being beaten with rods, once stoned, three times shipwrecked, he was in hunger and thirst and often without food, etc. And yet, Paul shares how distress is for our good and our salvation. He goes on to say that during those times, he felt the sentence of death in his heart. He then adds that the suffering happened so that in it we might not rely on ourselves but on God - who raises the dead.
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I want to encourage you that there is more. No matter what you have experienced or are experiencing, that on the other side of that failure, there is more. On the other side of this sickness, there is more. On the other side of your mountain, there is more. On the other side of this heartache, there is more.
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Nothing is wasted. If you feel unsure or unsteady, lost or overlooked, or you simply need to be reminded again, let me be the one to do that. He sees you. He knows you—better than you could know yourself—and He waits with open arms, available with anything you need.
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Please know that you have access to a God that outlasts space and time. You have access to an almighty power that loves to hear from you. Wherever you are at in this uncertain time, never forget that you are fully seen, fully known and fully loved by the King of Kings.
🤍 @winterandgrace

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A new year means a new focus.

The things seen are the things we generally want to change most when we start over - things like fitness, finance, food and what we wear.

While these things do serve us well and play a significant role in our lives, we have to remember that they are fleeting and temporary (2 Corinthians). The last four years I have deliberately began each new year thinking about the things unseen.

A few topics that I have chosen throughout the years have been Finding Joy, Boldness in the Wilderness, Speaking Life and The Undoing of Who I Have Become. Each year I would allow myself to be open throughout the twelve months, reminding myself over and over again what the year was about.

At the end of each year I would reflect, only to find that the things unseen were far more challenging than the things seen. I would also find that the greatest reward was in the transformation that had taken place.

This year I have chosen to focus on the ‘Alignment of body, mind and soul’ - a journey of correcting two parts that are off centre or unbalanced. This alignment in each part of the body, mind and soul will require stillness, restoration, life giving conversations, uncomfortable circumstances, vulnerability, minimising and boundaries to integrate fully in the wholeness of who God has made me to be.

I have learned over the years that He takes a keen interest in all parts of you, yes especially the parts that you deem unworthy to set free or too ugly to deserve attention.

If you can relate to this, there is Good News; there is Hope; there is Beauty available - it’s name is Jesus and He delights in redeeming and creating all things new. The year to come will be about putting one foot in front of the other to fill the gaps in those areas of feeling like a fraud.

Each year as I choose to set my eyes on the things unseen, I choose to ignite an eternal purpose that brings heaven to earth. As I write this, I want to challenge, encourage and ask you to think about the things unseen rather than the things seen.

#ThePowerOfHeaven #Melbourne #2020 🥂🎉

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Your pieces have been put back, differently.
In a way that now has a firm foundation, a quiet strength, a crowned identity that brings pure and deep rooted Joy.
This is a new you.
A you that remembers eternal promises in great suffering. A you that boasts in out of this world goodness. A you that fights for whom your soul loves. A you that delights in understanding. A you that breathes a different life. A full life, because of a sacrificed life.
@winterandgrace

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There has been a lot of things pressing firmly on my heart. I wasn’t sure how to express it. I wasn’t even sure what that weight was. I tried a few avenues to discover what I thought it might be but nothing seemed to shake the confusion. So I tried writing little notes and the burden began lifting day by day, little by little.

@winterandgrace is about knowing He is with you, even in our darkest of days. It’s about understanding His Grace and Mercy is in all seasons: including the ‘winter’.

I love sharing these notes with you, so if you would like to read them, please join me at @winterandgrace.

S.X #ALittleNoteWithGreatHope

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