The Shape of my Hearts Throne

    When I was young... and if I am going to be truly honest... even still now, my life very much revolves around food and all kinds of delicious sweets. I know it seems like a silly thing to say, but it is one of my life's passions. I LOVE to cook and I love to eat good, really good food. Who could blame me? I grew up Mennonite! Both my parents are amazing cooks and fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, doughnuts and every kind of delicious entree was marinated and prepared to perfection... they have passed their recipes and their pure delight in cooking absolute deliciousness on to me, and now I am joyfully busy in the kitchen teaching my kids how to bake and cook to their little hearts content. It is one of our favorite things to do together. Many memories and much laughter has been shared around the mixer!

     Today I spent some time looking back at my life and considering the things that have been the most important to me from as far back as I can remember until now. I used to save every single cent I earned. When I had 15 cents saved up, my mom would walk downtown with me, past all the quaint brick buildings in Mountain Lake MN and I would go back and forth forever about whether to spend my cents on a little box of Lemonheads or Redhots. I loved that time with her and of coarse my precious box of candy too!

      The other most important thing, actually THE most important thing from as far back as I can remember, has always been relationships. I have cared deeply for the people in my life, our family friends, church friends, school friends... I have thrived, depended and loved the relationships in my life.    I have cherished the sweet people the Lord has brought into my life, so much so, that even if I haven't seen some of them for years, nothing in my heart has changed, I still love them and the memories shared! God has used them to shape and form who I am today and for that I am forever grateful. As I have gotten older, relationships have become more and more important and valued. My husband, children and extended family are such a big part of my every day life and world as I know it. They have truly made me rich in all the ways that matter. I have never known or understood love like I know it now, walking through life with my little village of 6.

       The third thing that jumped right out to me was ministry.  It has always been a part of my life, and a vital part. I have loved serving in different ministries and to different capacities throughout the seasons. It has never been an option for me, more of a way of life. That is one other passion and discipline that I have gratefully inherited from my family, a desire to serve and to be of use to God however He can use me.

     These three things pretty much sum Rachel Libby up in a nut shell.  They are the things that bring me joy and that consume my mind and heart on a daily basis. All beautiful wonderful things, but I often turn to them in my search for fulfillment, satisfaction and self worth.
   
      In the last two years, I feel as though I have been enrolled in God's in depth coarse  of the human heart. My human heart. There are a thousand different things that I have learned. Some lessons God graciously and gently taught me, and other ones I learned through pain, grief, trials and discipline. So hard, but SO good. After the pruning comes the fruit. Praise God!

     In the last few weeks, over and over again - through various studies, conversations and the sermon series on Amos, God has been opening my eyes and turning my attention to the things in this life that I place on the seat of my heart's throne. Idols are not just statues carved out of stone or wood, they can be blessing and gifts that the Lord has given us, that we carve out a place for in our hearts.

     When I elevate my husband, kids, friends and ministry to a place in my heart where I am seeking to find fulfillment and satisfaction from them alone; not only do I come away dissapointed and with a distorted view of the gifts God has given me, it puts pressure and expectation on them in a truly unhealthy way. No one and no thing can take the place of God or fill us the way we were made to be filled to the fullness of Christ.

         God created you and I to be in relationship with Him. God loves us, is jealous for us and desires our hearts just as intensely as He did the Isrealites in the Old Testament. He wants NOTHING to stand in between Him and us. We are His loves, His bride, His prize. When we value, love and esteem people or things more than Him - He will go to every extent to bring us back to Him. Not because He is controlling and mean, but because He is God. He is GOD we are human flesh created by Him, in existence because of His goodness, mercy and grace.... our place is on our knees. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows we desperately need Him. He desires His best for us.

       As I have reflected on my own heart, I have become aware of how it is prone to wander.  I have had to confess that I allow other things to reign in my heart and mind. I have sought forgiveness and asked the Lord to fill me up to the fullness of Christ, that He and He alone would reign in me. I pray that my love for my family, for my friends and for the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to me will flow FROM my LOVE of the Lord. That I will seek to place Him above all else, seeking His face, grace, love and forgiveness to fill me daily, releasing those I love from my expectations and unspoken demands. In doing that my relationships have been all the richer, and my love for them has flown freely - from the abundance of His love in me.  I know that I will daily have to keep my heart in check, but my understanding is so much deeper and I want to live out my days worshiping the One who deserves every bit of my devotion and praise.

   

 
Psalm 106:36

They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

Isaiah 42:8

“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.

Psalm 31:6

I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord.

Psalm 78:58

They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols.

Ezekiel 14:3

“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?

Ezekiel 14:5

I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.’

Ezekiel 14:6

“Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!

1 Thessalonians 1:9

for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

Deuteronomy 7:5

This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire.

Jeremiah 14:22

Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this.

Romans 14:11

It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”