Perfect Love

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out all fear." (1 John 4:18 NASB)

Many times I've looked at this verse and simply thought that God's perfect love meant we don't need to be afraid of anything. We can live our lives with no fear. And yes, that is all very true. But God has been showing me today that there is so much more involved.

If one looks at the entire context of John 4 we see that it is about outward manifestations of love. This perfect love does not just keep us from getting afraid of things, it is the power that compels us to love. It is our greatest weapon.

During my prayer time with God today He was showing me that perfect love is what Jesus used when He was about to go to the cross. If you read in Luke: 42-44 we can see that before the cross fear was present. Jesus knew the pain and agony He was about to face. I mean we are talking about one man dying the death of every single human being on earth. But love was stronger then fear. And His love cast the fear aside and made it possible for Him to be the hero of everyone.

Now this perfect love of Christ is in us. It fuels us. As Romans 5:8 states we first come to know this love that was demonstrated to us by Jesus' death on the cross, then come to realize that this love casts all fear aside, and then realize that "the love of Christ controls us." (2 Corinthians 5:14)

We can see this perfect love demonstrated in many seemingly "fearful" situations and how love has conquered. First look at Christ- at twelve He had no fear but was teaching religious leaders; He had no fear of being tempted by women when He spoke to the women at the well (see we have His perfect pure love too that causes us to not fear a dead flesh and dead lusts/temptations); and to Him declaring to His Father at the cross about those mocking Him "Father forgive them for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34 NASB) Then look at Stephen who was controlled by this same love- as Stephen was being stoned to death he too yelled for God to forgive his accusers. Then look at Paul who was beaten, ship wrecked, thrown in jail, and so much more the whole time totally confident and possessed by Christ's perfect love. Then of course one can look at modern lovers like Heidi and Rolland Baker who left all to serve orphans in Mozambique Africa; Georgian and Winnie Banov who travel all the world and even speak at garbage dumps; Benjamin and Stephanie Dunn who love on lepers with no fear of getting ill; people who adopt children who are handicapped; mothers who chose to give all for their children; couples who chose to forsake their old way of life to join together in marriage; and so much more.

Love is the most powerful thing. Love is God. God is love. And love looks so simple. Just check out 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. But the amazing thing is there is nothing stronger. Instead of picking power, anger, lighting bolts, swords, etc... God chose perfect love to conquer the world. And perfect love looks like Jesus defeating all wickedness and imparting all goodness to the world. This perfect love that shoves fear aside to take that bullet declaring "I love you." And it is this perfect love that has been imparted to us. We live for love just like Jesus did. We are obsessed with love. And actually Jesus chooses to love though us. We are one with him and feel how He feels about others and cannot help ourselves but to love. We are so connected to Him that we do not know if it's His love we are feeling for someone or our own or a mixture. And our response/reaction to anyone and anything is love.

Now you might be wondering why I shared this video with you about the very cranky bear. Check out that sheep in the story. Love casts her fear of that cranky bear aside. Instead she loved that bear and love won. Love always wins no matter what or who tries to oppose it.

Enjoy being controlled by Christ and His perfect love. Love is so fun and so addictive and it so works.

Thoughts on Unity

I have begun to see why Paul says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18). I believe Jesus has such a heart to see His people get along as family and understand that we are a family no matter what. 

I have a family- a large family. A regular Dudek bunch we are- three girls and three boys. Our family grew up in a small house with three girls in one room and three boys in another. We were home schooled. But we were also one of the coolest, funniest (and still are) families ever. We have always been loud, interrupting each other and crazy open. My parents were always willing to be real with us and we could be real with them... so real that at young ages we could rebuke our parents. A couple times when our parents were fighting (which was rare) we kids actually made them work it out and would tell them they were both being selfish. We do not all agree either. I mean we all believe in Jesus and love the Lord, but yes some of our theologies even differ. We can annoy each other and hurt each other. And yet we were the home (and still are) where everyone wants to be. Our holidays are the best and we all just enjoy and legit love one another. We are always there for each other no matter what and we would give everything to help one another. Even if we went off a wrong path I know we would still be family.

I believe this is what God wants for His church. And by church I mean "His people." If I was upset with a family member I'd work it out and we'd still be family. I see so much in the church that can honestly be quite silly. Sometimes we act like to be a family we have to meet certain qualifications and believe the same thing perfectly. Then each talk behind the other's back. And I can  just see Jesus saying, "Guys, you are a family. Why are you living a lie. Let love reign." Control, winning an argument, proving who's right and wrong is not what it is about. Jesus got down and washed the disciples feet and they didn't even understand who He was and their theology was wack. Love will show the way. And love is what the world needs. And satan knows that if he can get the church to act the opposite of their real identity the world will not want anything to do with Jesus.

"Jesus, your grace has purchased for us not just individual perfection, but the entire church body perfection. I pray for you to bring revelation of this across your people throughout the world and this nation. I pray love will reign and in love things will be worked out. I pray for the manifestation of unity and brotherly love the likes of which we've never seen- a love that the world sees and says, "Wow that's Jesus." A love that without trying we are the home where everyone wants to be just like my Dudek home. It's time Daddy that we stop our silly arguments and fears and lay down our insecurities and walk in our real identity. Satan has lied so long to all of us making us act worse toward one another then the world. No more. Jesus shine on. Thank you that you purchased your entire bride on the cross. Get the reaction that you want from your bride. And start with me. Show me the way. Help me. I love you. It is time.

In Jesus Name Amen."

Life's a Maze

Well I just want to thank my Jesus for a refreshing Friday and Saturday.

Right now I am a preschool lead teacher and also going back to school to pursue my Bachelor's in Early Childhood education. It's been busy juggling school, college, etc. But God has been soooooooooo goood. I am about to make some big transitions. One thing God has really shown me is not to over spiritualize things and just see that He is in everything.Too often I used to make lame excuses about why I was feeling this way or that way and why this or that was happening when some answers are so simple. This week I often just felt anxious, confused, exhausted and God so sweetly told me that I was just tired and about to make some big steps and that it was ok. Sometimes it's just the simple answers like go to school, plan a budget, eat right, get some sleep, enjoy friends and family, watch a movie, etc.

This weekend I got to sleep in, watch a wonderful movie- Real Steel- with my parents, hang out with friends and family, slept in, went on a corn maze, and talked and gave and received hugs. Truly God is in the simple things.

He's been teaching me soooo much about wisdom too. He's letting me see that wisdom is a good thing, a sweet thing that He has purchased for us on the cross. Imagine having the wisest man ever around to help you make decisions, deal with relationships, figure out schooling, etc. I think of how much trouble God saved me from founding me through my parents with a right relationship attitude toward guys. I feel I was saved from so much trouble and heartache and am truly happy. Wisdom is free wine too. Check out Proverbs 9:4-5....yum. It's awesome reading Proverbs through the framework of what Jesus has already purchased for us on the cross. He is wisdom. And He's even given us these minds to make wise choices and be creative! It's so fun. It was actually neat planning a budget with Him today.

So thank you Daddy for being so wise and kind. It's great being yours. I love you so much. Bless all my readers with refreshment and wisdom too. Even overflowing so we can pour your refreshment and wisdom to others from our unique way. Love you all. :)

As I was locating a picture for this... I just realized that a maze can be a truly wonderful and refreshing thing. We go through corn mazes for fun and to spend time with those we love and enjoy. It can take a long time to get through. If it doesn't you feel ripped off. And you all have fun working together trying to figure out how to get through it. Wrong turns become part of the fun. And during it you can't help throwing corn kernals at each other and just being silly. Everyone knows you can't take a maze too seriously. The point is to get lost and have fun through it. It's about adventure and good times. And the more the merrier.

Sometimes life can feel like a maze. We know it might take a while to get through but we don't know for sure. If you take it too seriously you'll miss out. But with Jesus and His wisdom and refreshment it is fun and enjoyable. It's truly a beautiful thing. Life is not about getting through it and figuring it out... it's about enjoying Jesus and all His blessings in it, learning about Him through it, and blessing others as well. It's the adventure of Jesus and His love experienced with others. Thank you Jesus for the mazes of our lives.

Hosting Benjamin Dunn and Friends

Well it all started with me and my sister in law Jodi running into two Jesus guys at Dunkin Donuts. Then we learn there's a new ministry run by a sweet Jesus couple called Love Drunk ministries and meetings they host called Kingdom Culture meetings right here in downtown. Who woulda thunk?! To fast forward a bit me, my brother, my sister in law, and my friend Alanna simply joined in with this family of believers and are all obsessed with Jesus and His grace. And just last weekend God worked it out for all of us to host Benjamin Dunn and Friends- a totally heaven manifesting Jesus band that are doing world-wide tours to raise money to build a leper mansion in India. Benjamin Dunn also wrote one of my favorite books called the Happy Gospel.
So the whole band stayed at my brother and sister in laws help and I simply got to help host. It was amazing meeting these people whom I just heard of about a year ago. They are some of  the sweetest, most chill, joyous, and truly talented people I know. It was such a blessing just getting to talk with them and hear the concert itself. God really worked it out and gave us an awesome location (the auricle in Downtown Canton, Ohio) and brought many people who were already there for Canton's first Friday of the month art festival. The energy, joy, uniqueness blew me away! This was honestly the first concert I've ever been to (I used to be very conservative with music) and it was beyond amazing!!! I felt God so much. The band told us too that it was one of the best shows they had on this tour so far. God is so good using little old us.
This song is one of the songs they do in the album circus of love. If I get videos and pictures up I will be able to show you actually footage from when they were here.
Ben told us at the concert this song "You're the sweetest thing" was given to them from God on the spot as they sang for this lady with leprosy. All I could think of when they played the song here were my preschoolers and other people God has used me to love on. Enjoy. And dream with God... nothing is impossible. You... yourself... are a miracle! :)

Africa Jesus Wine

So I discovered while on my Africa trip that the Jesus glory in Africa is quite delicious. I have never drank more then a sip of real alcohol and never taken drugs and I will never need to. See Jesus satisfies me every moment of everyday whether I'm chill or whether I'm crazy. Some people manifest Jesus' joy and love and laughter in different ways. Really the best way I can explain all the extreme manifestations is its like when people are chill and happy watching a funny movie or a funny moment occurs and you just can't help but roll on the floor laughing or the wild jittery excitement a child gets at Christmas only a bazillion times better. It's hard to not manifest a smile, laugh, silliness, rolling on the floor laughing, totally relaxed laying down, or just a sweet chillness when you are experiencing the reality of who you are in Him. So here is what a Jesus drink of glory looks like with Georgian and Winnie and our team at the Iris Base in Pemba, Mozambique Africa. You can't see me in the video because I'm filming but you can hear me laughing. Enjoy. This wellspring is inside of you 24/7 no matter where you are. :)

The Heavy Weight of Peace

I would like to release a new way of thinking... actually an old way... a Jesus way. See we have all thought something very wrong for quite some time, myself included.

A few days ago I felt troubled... "heavy" is how I like to call it. There was so much drama happening all around me and so much trouble it seemed in my life at that moment. I wanted to walk in grace but just felt so "heavy." Finally I gave up trying and just went for a walk with two friends of mine and blurted out all my concerns. My friend Alanna then shared the most profound, yet strangely simple truth that I have ever heard (something God told her the night before.) It was just, "My peace is heavy."

It hit me that I had it all wrong. I was believing a lie that our earthly troubles are actually heavier then the peace of God. But the reality is that His peace, love, joy, etc. is heavier then any trouble we could ever face and thereby makes our earthly troubles seem light in comparison. This reality manifests not just in our minds, but in our emotions as well. We actually feel peaceful.

So I decided to challenge God's grace. I quit trying to fix things and trying to understand things. I just decided to simply believe the truth. And it worked!!!! No matter what was going on around me I felt peaceful. Even discovering I had an unexpected extremely high payment to make did not unsettle me. It has been crazy. He really has purchased this kind of heavy glory for us 24/7 through the blood of our Savior.

Here's scripture to prove this- Isaiah 26:3-4 (and that's "perfect" peace), Philippians 4: 7-9 (He guards our minds with His peace. He does this, not us.) Proverbs 3:5-6 (so we this isn't based on our own understanding or if we know where were heading), John 14: 1, John 14:27 (this peace is way beyond the world and its understanding. It's outside our box), John 6:29 (It's simple... all we have to do is believe what He says about what He has already given us in Christ), Colossians 3:2-3 (We must believe in our minds what Christ has already done for us. Simply believe the truth. We even have the mind of Christ.), 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction (and this is Paul talking whose afflictions including floggings, sleepless nights, hunger, etc. [2 Cor. 6:4-5]) is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

I dare you to challenge the grace of God in every area of your life and just see if He will lavish on you that "peace which surpasses all understanding." And peace is just one of the fruits of the Spirit. I share with you this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsSR4VrmsRY and ask you to dare to change your way of thinking. I dare you do believe what Jesus has purchased for you on the cross. God bless.

Peace out.

Love Me For Me

This is a video I made using pictures from my mission trip to Africa. My little brother introduced this song to me by JJ Heller called "Love Me". The song totally gripped my heart and I had to make this video. May Jesus bless you with this video and it stir your heart as you hear the cry of the lost.