Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

Crowned With His Glory

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Have you ever worn a crown? I haven’t. Oh, I’ve been called Princess, and even Queen (on a good day), but I’ve never been crowned.

Even if I had a crown full of precious gemstones, I’m not sure I could wear it! Did you know the crown that Queen Elizabeth wore on her coronation is made of solid gold? And it weighs almost five pounds! The coronation lasted three hours. I wonder how long her headache lasted?

As children of God, the King of Kings, there is a crown we’ve been handed.

“You made us a little lower than You Yourself, and You have crowned us with glory and honor.” Psalm 8:5 (CEV) 

I don’t know about you, but I’m a questioner. I ask tons of questions. When I read this verse, the first question that popped into my mind is this:

Can I handle wearing the crown of glory? Will the weight of the responsibility be too much?
Because wearing God’s glory, being anointed with that crown, means that we are His representatives here on earth. We reflect Him to a lost and dying world. It’s a weighty responsibility.

How can we wear His crown properly? How do we carry this crown with the dignity it deserves ? How can we reflect God’s glory to others? And, do we reflect His glory when no one is looking? Or is that when we take the heavy crown off, to get a little relief from the weight?

We can’t carry this glory on our own. But God provided a way for us. He sent Jesus. We have Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). And because of Jesus, and His power in us, we can bear this weight and we can shine the light of God’s glory. Only through Jesus.

Glory

[tweetthis]When the light of Christ fills us, the glory of God flows from us[/tweetthis].

Why did He crown us – His children, His followers – to be His reflection on earth? Plain, ordinary sinners like us. His glorious crown dripping with jewels…rubies of honor, emeralds of majesty and sapphires of splendor. Why did He appoint us to be His royal priesthood, His crowning glory?

Because He loves us – so much that He created us in His image. So much that He sent His Son to bear the ultimate weight: Our sins. The cleansing blood of Jesus consecrates us for His royal lineage.

Looking back on this post, I see all the questions (I warned you!). All good questions to ponder. I didn’t give too many answers. But really, there is only one answer: Jesus. Only Jesus.

Until next week,

 

 

 

Joining these lovely writers. Be sure to visit their pages, you’ll be encouraged!

Suzie Eller, Live Free Thursday

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Kelly at Purposeful Faith

Holly at Testimony Tuesday

Holley at Coffee for Your Heart

Jennifer at Tell His Story

Bonnie at Faith Barista
Beloved Brews Linkup

He Met Us at She Speaks

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I had the honor and privilege of attending the She Speaks Conference in North Carolina this year, for the second time. She Speaks is a speaker/writer/leadership conference hosted by the wonderful women of Proverbs 31 Ministries.

My friend Carmen and I traveled together. We would also be roomies at the conference. She and I met on Compel Training, a membership site for those who want to learn writing and move people with our words. This would be the most amount of time we had ever spent together. How would it go?

Turns out, we are two peas in a pod. We discovered we’re both rule followers. On the plane, we tsk-tsked together when the gentleman in front of us didn’t put his seat in the upright position before take off. We laughed until we cried one night at the blinking light on the TV, which we both knew would keep us awake. Yes, even with our eyes closed. We’re like that. Could God have found a more perfect roomie for me – old me – who is set in her ways? I think not.

Scripture SS2015

At the conference we found out that the P31 staff had been bathing us in prayer. I was so humbled that these busy women, organizing a conference for 700 or more women, had taken the time to pray for each of us – by name! Humbled and honored.

But of course, when an older (ahem) writer is placed in a room full of younger more experienced writers and speakers, the insecurities do kick in. Not to worry, our faithful God had us covered. At the opening session, we each had a scroll at our place setting. As each woman slowly unrolled her scroll, you could hear gasps, tears and shouts of joy. The P31 team had given a unique scripture to each of us.

Mine was 1 Corinthians 1:26-30:
“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,”

God chose me – foolish and weak – to proclaim the truth of His word through writing. How did He know I would need that very verse? Not only at the conference, but each time I ponder this question: Why bother writing?

She Speaks

God showed up in a big way at this conference. And that should be no surprise.

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20 (NASB)

Here are a few more inspirations and take-aways from She Speaks 2015:

  • We must be with Him before we are sent out by Him.  Lysa TerKeurst
  • Trusting God is THE most important thing. Liz Curtis Higgs
  • The key to boldness is knowing God is with us. Our greatest need is the power of the Holy Spirit. Micca Campbell
  • You can only go and tell if you have seen and heard. Liz Curtis Higgs

Until next week,