This world is cruel, creation is groaning beneath the surface and crying out to be saved from its pain. Our ancestors since the Fall of humanity have suffered greatly, but we tend to get so lost in our own selfish world sometimes and forget that our Savior suffered just as we do.
Like a sheep he was led to slaughter,
and like a lamb before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
-Isaiah
Jesus saw the JOY in the midst of the pain–He could see that when it was finished the whole world would have access to His Father again–he kept enduring for our sake. Jesus died so that we might have life in Him.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be visible in our bodies.
So death is at work in us, but life in YOU.
-2 Corinthians 4
While sometimes we may feel as though God has abandoned us and doubt has shadowed our faith, His Grace sustains and strengthens us and we must have the courage to seek the JOY beyond the shadows even when you cannot visibly see it.
May we allow God to isolate us, it is in this experience of isolation that the Lord develops an independence of life and faith so that the soul no longer depends on the continual help, prayer, faith and care of others. God allows these difficulties to come upon you in order to bring you closer to Himself. Even though we do not understand it, we can be assured Jesus has not come to separate us from Himself, but to cause you to cling to Him more faithfully, firmly and simply.
Let us enjoy His light and comfort when it is His pleasure to give it to us, but may we have the faith and steady determination not to attach ourselves to his gifts.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Superman
Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy, but more than that he stood before a nation and represented a man of humility. I feel so blessed to be a part of such a great accomplishment, but I am also proud to call him a brother in Christ. RG was so humbled by this award and represented Baylor so well. I pray today not only for his humility and awareness of God's grace, but for our own as a body of believers who love our Lord beyond the trophies of the world. Thank you, Robert for your obedience and may we take your example and follow it. Thank you, Jesus, for where you have brought us and for where we are going. May we have the faith to follow, the wisdom to know, and the humility to receive.
"For with you is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light." Psalm 36:9
"For with you is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light." Psalm 36:9
Thursday, December 1, 2011
If you are in Christ these all apply, so rest, accept, and live in light of them.
You are loved | Ephesians 2:4
You are forgiven | 1st John 2:12
You are healed | Isaiah 53:5
You are new | 2nd Corinthians 5:17
You are secure | Hebrews 6:19-20
You are no longer under condemnation | Romans 8:1
You have the Holy Spirit | Ephesians 1:13
You have every spiritual blessing in Christ | Ephesians 1:3
You will never be abandoned | Matthew 28:20
You are partakers of the divine nature | 2nd Peter 1:4
You are pursued | 1st John 4:10
You are clean | 1st Corinthians 6:11
You are holy | Colossians 1:22
You are blameless | Ephesians 1:4
You are His | Titus 2:14
You are made in His image | Genesis 1:27
You are written on the palm of His hand | Isaiah 49:16
You are free | Galatians 5:1
You are filled with a Spirit of power, not of fear | 2nd Timothy 1:7
You have Jesus as your advocate | 1st John 2:1
You are justified | Romans 5:1
You are not on trial anymore | Colossians 2:14
You have a Father that graciously gives all things | Romans 8:32
You have Him interceding for you at all times | Romans 8:34
You are a Child of Him | 1st John 3:1
You are His bride | Ephesians 5:31-32
You are His friend | John 15:15
Your old self is buried with Him | Romans 6:3
You are raised to new life | Romans 6:4
You are dead to sin | Romans 6:7
You are in union with Jesus | Galatians 2:20
You are a member of His body | Romans 12:5
You are chosen | Ephesians 1:4
You are hidden with Christ in God | Colossians 3:3
You are a branch of Jesus | John 15:5
You have perfect access to Him at all times because of the blood | Ephesians 3:12
You are God’s poetry/workmanship | Ephesians 2:10
You are forgiven | 1st John 2:12
You are healed | Isaiah 53:5
You are new | 2nd Corinthians 5:17
You are secure | Hebrews 6:19-20
You are no longer under condemnation | Romans 8:1
You have the Holy Spirit | Ephesians 1:13
You have every spiritual blessing in Christ | Ephesians 1:3
You will never be abandoned | Matthew 28:20
You are partakers of the divine nature | 2nd Peter 1:4
You are pursued | 1st John 4:10
You are clean | 1st Corinthians 6:11
You are holy | Colossians 1:22
You are blameless | Ephesians 1:4
You are His | Titus 2:14
You are made in His image | Genesis 1:27
You are written on the palm of His hand | Isaiah 49:16
You are free | Galatians 5:1
You are filled with a Spirit of power, not of fear | 2nd Timothy 1:7
You have Jesus as your advocate | 1st John 2:1
You are justified | Romans 5:1
You are not on trial anymore | Colossians 2:14
You have a Father that graciously gives all things | Romans 8:32
You have Him interceding for you at all times | Romans 8:34
You are a Child of Him | 1st John 3:1
You are His bride | Ephesians 5:31-32
You are His friend | John 15:15
Your old self is buried with Him | Romans 6:3
You are raised to new life | Romans 6:4
You are dead to sin | Romans 6:7
You are in union with Jesus | Galatians 2:20
You are a member of His body | Romans 12:5
You are chosen | Ephesians 1:4
You are hidden with Christ in God | Colossians 3:3
You are a branch of Jesus | John 15:5
You have perfect access to Him at all times because of the blood | Ephesians 3:12
You are God’s poetry/workmanship | Ephesians 2:10
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
John 11:25-27
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
John 14:1
Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."
Luke 18:42
Then he said to him, "Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you."
Luke 17:19
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease."
Mark 5:34
Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12
Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him...These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking after a country of their own. If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11
I am tired and I go through seasons of doubt just like everyone else. But, somehow I stumbled upon these verses about FAITH and I know God was speaking to me. Live in faith and do not grow weary. Our God will reward faithfulness. I know it gets tough sometimes, but we have to continually return to him. EVERY day. Surrender your heart to Him and do not walk away.
Funny how the lyrics Im listening to continue to repeat these words as I type:
"I am fractured from the fall, and I want to go home. It takes two, but it used to take one." -"Two" by Ryan Adams
...I am fractured from the fall of our sinfulness and I want to go home to my Father in heaven...we were once one with God and now it takes Jesus and us to be one again with Him. We desire a better country and I cannot wait to get there!!
She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
John 11:25-27
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
John 14:1
Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."
Luke 18:42
Then he said to him, "Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you."
Luke 17:19
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease."
Mark 5:34
Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12
Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him...These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking after a country of their own. If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11
I am tired and I go through seasons of doubt just like everyone else. But, somehow I stumbled upon these verses about FAITH and I know God was speaking to me. Live in faith and do not grow weary. Our God will reward faithfulness. I know it gets tough sometimes, but we have to continually return to him. EVERY day. Surrender your heart to Him and do not walk away.
Funny how the lyrics Im listening to continue to repeat these words as I type:
"I am fractured from the fall, and I want to go home. It takes two, but it used to take one." -"Two" by Ryan Adams
...I am fractured from the fall of our sinfulness and I want to go home to my Father in heaven...we were once one with God and now it takes Jesus and us to be one again with Him. We desire a better country and I cannot wait to get there!!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
The Hand
Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment - to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful.
Most of the class might be considered economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her student's art. And they were.
But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher's true child of misery - frail and unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad eyes.
Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an empty hand.
His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys. Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect and care for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us. And so the discussion went - until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself.
When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused at Douglas' desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was. The little boy looked away and murmured, "It's yours, teacher."
She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there, as she had the other students. How often had she said, "Take my hand, Douglas, we'll go outside." Or, "Let me show you how to hold your pencil." Or, "Let's do this together." Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand.
Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work.
The story speaks of more than thankfulness. It says something about teachers teaching and parents parenting and friends showing friendship, and how much it means to the Douglases of the world. They might not always say thanks. But they'll remember the hand that reaches out.
"Your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalms 139:10
"I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand." Psalms 73:23
This story brought tears to my eyes...I CAN'T WAIT TO BE A TEACHER!!
Most of the class might be considered economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her student's art. And they were.
But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher's true child of misery - frail and unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad eyes.
Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an empty hand.
His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys. Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect and care for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us. And so the discussion went - until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself.
When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused at Douglas' desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was. The little boy looked away and murmured, "It's yours, teacher."
She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there, as she had the other students. How often had she said, "Take my hand, Douglas, we'll go outside." Or, "Let me show you how to hold your pencil." Or, "Let's do this together." Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand.
Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work.
The story speaks of more than thankfulness. It says something about teachers teaching and parents parenting and friends showing friendship, and how much it means to the Douglases of the world. They might not always say thanks. But they'll remember the hand that reaches out.
"Your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalms 139:10
"I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand." Psalms 73:23
This story brought tears to my eyes...I CAN'T WAIT TO BE A TEACHER!!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Artists
No better time to write a blog than when in the library attempting to write a 10 page paper on Michelangelo...
Somehow whenever I sit down to study or do homework or write papers, I seem to get distracted NOT by twitter or social media outlets, but by Jesus....I guess that is not a sad thing. What can I say, I just love my main man and I love to contemplate life.
"One recognizes the wisdom of a great man in the fear with which he does the things he understands best." -Michelangelo
What is it that I do best? What is it that I do that people might possibly recognize as wisdom?
Well, for Michelangelo, he was a remarkable artist. Most people, do not appreciate artists because they do not understand the full extent of the word. A real artist is usually brilliant and hosts a philosophical mind; they have so much going on in their heads they do not know how to express it other than with their hands. Whatever unfolds before an artist when he works is a manifestation of an idea formed within the brain. For Michelangelo, his force of imagination was so extraordinary he could never be fully satisfied with his work....he always depreciated its quality esteeming that his hand failed to attain the original idea he had formed in his mind.
Michelangelo's work is faultless in my mind, it is technically perfect, radiating with passion and supereminent in force. He believed strongly in Neoplatonic ideas stressing that things perceived by the senses are beautiful only because they imitate the Creator and that the artist himself, in creating his works, imitates God directly. WOW.
Anyways, I won't bore you with more admiration of an artist, but just wanted to give you a little insight into the real definition of an artist...I hope you learn to discover an appreciation for art and the beauty of what it reflects.
I am by NO means saying I am an artist. To be frankly honest, I do not feel worthy of the term, but when someone calls me an artist I am utterly flattered and entirely humbled.
Honestly, I used to hate going to museums and I still don't understand how scribble can be worth millions of dollars, but now that I have learned the context and the deeper meaning of this word, I LOVE museums. If you ever want me to teach you how to appreciate art, you know how to find me.
With that said, BACK TO YOU 10 PAGE PAPER...Im out.
Somehow whenever I sit down to study or do homework or write papers, I seem to get distracted NOT by twitter or social media outlets, but by Jesus....I guess that is not a sad thing. What can I say, I just love my main man and I love to contemplate life.
"One recognizes the wisdom of a great man in the fear with which he does the things he understands best." -Michelangelo
What is it that I do best? What is it that I do that people might possibly recognize as wisdom?
Well, for Michelangelo, he was a remarkable artist. Most people, do not appreciate artists because they do not understand the full extent of the word. A real artist is usually brilliant and hosts a philosophical mind; they have so much going on in their heads they do not know how to express it other than with their hands. Whatever unfolds before an artist when he works is a manifestation of an idea formed within the brain. For Michelangelo, his force of imagination was so extraordinary he could never be fully satisfied with his work....he always depreciated its quality esteeming that his hand failed to attain the original idea he had formed in his mind.
Michelangelo's work is faultless in my mind, it is technically perfect, radiating with passion and supereminent in force. He believed strongly in Neoplatonic ideas stressing that things perceived by the senses are beautiful only because they imitate the Creator and that the artist himself, in creating his works, imitates God directly. WOW.
Anyways, I won't bore you with more admiration of an artist, but just wanted to give you a little insight into the real definition of an artist...I hope you learn to discover an appreciation for art and the beauty of what it reflects.
I am by NO means saying I am an artist. To be frankly honest, I do not feel worthy of the term, but when someone calls me an artist I am utterly flattered and entirely humbled.
Honestly, I used to hate going to museums and I still don't understand how scribble can be worth millions of dollars, but now that I have learned the context and the deeper meaning of this word, I LOVE museums. If you ever want me to teach you how to appreciate art, you know how to find me.
With that said, BACK TO YOU 10 PAGE PAPER...Im out.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Thorn Bird.
Tonight at Catholic Mass, Father Anthony shared with us this story:
There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in His heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the price of great pain... or so says the legend...
I was moved so deeply by this image. Something in this small bird's dying song struck a chord within me. I got lost in mass tonight in a funny dream, I could hear the bird singing. There was something singing within me a beautiful song of hope for whatever lies ahead, it tells me "To live is Christ, to die is gain." God cannot work through despair, he cannot move in denial or shame, God cannot move when we give up or quit trying. God moves through us when we are willing to be moved. Whether he will move us to suffering or comfort we do not know, but through faith we have to TRUST Him.
My Jesus, Our Jesus, is the songbird. He died upon the sharpest thorn singing the most beautiful song. For those of us who hear His song resonate in our soul, it makes us stop in our tracks and be still. Heaven smiles and we know the Hope of eternity. With that we must work, we must sacrifice and love until everyone hears the same song that came to save us.
"May the eyes of your heart may be enlightened that you may know the HOPE to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19
There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in His heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the price of great pain... or so says the legend...
I was moved so deeply by this image. Something in this small bird's dying song struck a chord within me. I got lost in mass tonight in a funny dream, I could hear the bird singing. There was something singing within me a beautiful song of hope for whatever lies ahead, it tells me "To live is Christ, to die is gain." God cannot work through despair, he cannot move in denial or shame, God cannot move when we give up or quit trying. God moves through us when we are willing to be moved. Whether he will move us to suffering or comfort we do not know, but through faith we have to TRUST Him.
My Jesus, Our Jesus, is the songbird. He died upon the sharpest thorn singing the most beautiful song. For those of us who hear His song resonate in our soul, it makes us stop in our tracks and be still. Heaven smiles and we know the Hope of eternity. With that we must work, we must sacrifice and love until everyone hears the same song that came to save us.
"May the eyes of your heart may be enlightened that you may know the HOPE to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19
My calling.
Somehow, I actually got accepted into Teach for America in South Carolina.
I have been overwhelmed, but entirely excited about the adventure that lies ahead of me. For the next 2 years, I am legally bound to something I do not even fully understand the extent of and something I have mysteriously craved to do all my life. Ever since I was little I would pack a backpack and run away (really hiding in the treehouse) or ride off on my horse just to be alone–there has always been a desire in me to go away and truly discover if my life is real; I want to know if I am who I think I am without being defined by family, friends, where I am from or where I am going. Is my faith really as strong as I hope it is?
I am confident that although these next 2 years may be the hardest of my life, God will be shaping me and using me to bring light to a dim place. The kingdom comes not by what we do to serve God, but by God working in and through us. I am ready to give up my selfish college lifestyle and at least try to allow Jesus to live through me somewhere totally new.
When Jesus was resurrected He came back to his loyal followers to fully transform them in a powerful way. "He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit..." John 20:22. Up to this point they had followed Jesus and had come to trust Him, although they did not always understand Him–now Jesus unites Himself with them in an unusual spiritual manner. They are no longer merely followers of Christ, but rather mystically UNITED to Him and thus extensions of Him in the world.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
We are called to be His followers even when we do not understand; we are called to be obedient to His call. No matter what path we choose for ourselves, the Holy Spirit stands beside us and fortifies us with all the power and strength to teach, to heal, to save others from sinking in the world, to extend the mercy of Christ to all people...
Beyond the words on this page, I cannot express enough thankfulness for my friends and the people God has touched me through. The devil has a funny hold on me in the times I feel most alone and anxious about the future, but I know beyond the shadow of a doubt the Lord has used and will continue to use numerous people to ease my anxiousness. Thank you, friends and family, for your prayers and encouragement, but most of all for your obedience–without your obedience to the Spirit, I would not be here. All that to say, I expect ALL OF YOU to get a flight to South Carolina ASAP:)
"Call upon me and I will show you great and mighty things, things that you don't even know are going to happen to you!" Jeremiah 33:3
I have been overwhelmed, but entirely excited about the adventure that lies ahead of me. For the next 2 years, I am legally bound to something I do not even fully understand the extent of and something I have mysteriously craved to do all my life. Ever since I was little I would pack a backpack and run away (really hiding in the treehouse) or ride off on my horse just to be alone–there has always been a desire in me to go away and truly discover if my life is real; I want to know if I am who I think I am without being defined by family, friends, where I am from or where I am going. Is my faith really as strong as I hope it is?
I am confident that although these next 2 years may be the hardest of my life, God will be shaping me and using me to bring light to a dim place. The kingdom comes not by what we do to serve God, but by God working in and through us. I am ready to give up my selfish college lifestyle and at least try to allow Jesus to live through me somewhere totally new.
When Jesus was resurrected He came back to his loyal followers to fully transform them in a powerful way. "He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit..." John 20:22. Up to this point they had followed Jesus and had come to trust Him, although they did not always understand Him–now Jesus unites Himself with them in an unusual spiritual manner. They are no longer merely followers of Christ, but rather mystically UNITED to Him and thus extensions of Him in the world.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
We are called to be His followers even when we do not understand; we are called to be obedient to His call. No matter what path we choose for ourselves, the Holy Spirit stands beside us and fortifies us with all the power and strength to teach, to heal, to save others from sinking in the world, to extend the mercy of Christ to all people...
Beyond the words on this page, I cannot express enough thankfulness for my friends and the people God has touched me through. The devil has a funny hold on me in the times I feel most alone and anxious about the future, but I know beyond the shadow of a doubt the Lord has used and will continue to use numerous people to ease my anxiousness. Thank you, friends and family, for your prayers and encouragement, but most of all for your obedience–without your obedience to the Spirit, I would not be here. All that to say, I expect ALL OF YOU to get a flight to South Carolina ASAP:)
"Call upon me and I will show you great and mighty things, things that you don't even know are going to happen to you!" Jeremiah 33:3
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Wait.
It seems were always waiting.
As a child we wait for Santa Claus to come down the chimney, our birthday party once a year, our first tooth to fall out, our Dad to come home from work, the first time to wear make-up and see PG-13 movies, the first time to fly in an airplane.
Then we wait to see if we made the volleyball team or the cheerleading squad, we wait to get asked to prom, for the day we rule the school as "seniors", to get the SAT score back, the big step when we apply to college and anxiously await responses.
Eventually, we move away from home and wait for the adventure college holds.
In college life stands still and we never want to leave the never-ending-vacation, but theres still something lingering in us that is waiting for something more.
There is a whole life out there waiting for us to find it, or it to find us.
As much as I have always wanted to get over this whole phase of waiting, I think theres much to be said about this idea of waiting that shows up again and again in our lives.
I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:15
When we are in waiting we feel uncertain and unsure, we ask ourselves, "On what is my hope based?" "Where do I find joy and comfort again?" We find none in the contemplation of the world itself, in man and his pursuits; in the course of things so shadowy and so mysterious, we ultimately find ourselves contemplating God.
The contemplation of a world so vain, so shadowy, so mysterious leads us away from expecting to find what we need in the world or finding a solution to the questions which confuse us...ultimately this contemplation brought on by the "wait" leads us to the great God who is infinitely wise, and who can meet all the necessities of our inadequate human nature. In his own time, our Lord can solve all these mysteries, so why not wait on Him and not our own desire to control and understand?
And so today I will wait. I am going to be here, present to what life hands me. And when its time to be somewhere else, I will be there...present to what life hands me there.
Are we supposed to be comfortable or always living in Trust?
As a child we wait for Santa Claus to come down the chimney, our birthday party once a year, our first tooth to fall out, our Dad to come home from work, the first time to wear make-up and see PG-13 movies, the first time to fly in an airplane.
Then we wait to see if we made the volleyball team or the cheerleading squad, we wait to get asked to prom, for the day we rule the school as "seniors", to get the SAT score back, the big step when we apply to college and anxiously await responses.
Eventually, we move away from home and wait for the adventure college holds.
In college life stands still and we never want to leave the never-ending-vacation, but theres still something lingering in us that is waiting for something more.
There is a whole life out there waiting for us to find it, or it to find us.
As much as I have always wanted to get over this whole phase of waiting, I think theres much to be said about this idea of waiting that shows up again and again in our lives.
I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:15
When we are in waiting we feel uncertain and unsure, we ask ourselves, "On what is my hope based?" "Where do I find joy and comfort again?" We find none in the contemplation of the world itself, in man and his pursuits; in the course of things so shadowy and so mysterious, we ultimately find ourselves contemplating God.
The contemplation of a world so vain, so shadowy, so mysterious leads us away from expecting to find what we need in the world or finding a solution to the questions which confuse us...ultimately this contemplation brought on by the "wait" leads us to the great God who is infinitely wise, and who can meet all the necessities of our inadequate human nature. In his own time, our Lord can solve all these mysteries, so why not wait on Him and not our own desire to control and understand?
And so today I will wait. I am going to be here, present to what life hands me. And when its time to be somewhere else, I will be there...present to what life hands me there.
Are we supposed to be comfortable or always living in Trust?
Friday, November 4, 2011
Thankful.
So thankful for life. So thankful for today.
This morning, it is 7am and I am here. I am breathing, my heart beats steadily and I know that he is God. My life is not in my control; as much as I want everything to be in my control, it is not.
Hot cup of coffee and 26 degrees outside puts me in a state of contemplation and stillness. Today I will walk outside and expect to go to class at 8:00am, I will expect to run some errands after class, maybe take a nap or get caught up on homework...but little do I know, my whole life could change in a minute, a second, a flash.
We can go through life pretending like we have it all together all the time, we can plan, we can commit to obligations. Or we can live in the present and introduce ourselves to Eternity that intersects us at every step we take.
Today I dare you to walk with Him. Picture Jesus walking not behind you (past) or in front of you (future), but with you in the present...get to know Him and let him guide you through campus, around your house, through class, maybe common grounds.
"As we read spiritually about spiritual things, we open our hearts to God’s voice. Sometimes we must be willing to put down the book we are reading and just listen to what God is saying to us through its words." -Henri Nouwen
This morning, it is 7am and I am here. I am breathing, my heart beats steadily and I know that he is God. My life is not in my control; as much as I want everything to be in my control, it is not.
Hot cup of coffee and 26 degrees outside puts me in a state of contemplation and stillness. Today I will walk outside and expect to go to class at 8:00am, I will expect to run some errands after class, maybe take a nap or get caught up on homework...but little do I know, my whole life could change in a minute, a second, a flash.
We can go through life pretending like we have it all together all the time, we can plan, we can commit to obligations. Or we can live in the present and introduce ourselves to Eternity that intersects us at every step we take.
Today I dare you to walk with Him. Picture Jesus walking not behind you (past) or in front of you (future), but with you in the present...get to know Him and let him guide you through campus, around your house, through class, maybe common grounds.
"As we read spiritually about spiritual things, we open our hearts to God’s voice. Sometimes we must be willing to put down the book we are reading and just listen to what God is saying to us through its words." -Henri Nouwen
Friday, October 28, 2011
Psalm 46–Jenny & Tyler
the LORD is my refuge and strength
therefore i will not be afraid
though the mountains give way
and fall into the sea
He will come and rescue me
the LORD comes to me at break of day
He reaches down to guide me in His ways
though the oceans roar
in this dark and stormy sea
He will come and rescue me
halleluYah, He is with me
halleluYah, we cannot be moved
halleluYah, He is with me
halleluYah, i rest secure
be still and know that He is God
He will be exalted over all
come and behold His strength and majesty
yet He will come and rescue me
halleluYah, He is with me
halleluYah, we cannot be moved
halleluYah, He is with me
halleluYah, i rest secure
therefore i will not be afraid
though the mountains give way
and fall into the sea
He will come and rescue me
the LORD comes to me at break of day
He reaches down to guide me in His ways
though the oceans roar
in this dark and stormy sea
He will come and rescue me
halleluYah, He is with me
halleluYah, we cannot be moved
halleluYah, He is with me
halleluYah, i rest secure
be still and know that He is God
He will be exalted over all
come and behold His strength and majesty
yet He will come and rescue me
halleluYah, He is with me
halleluYah, we cannot be moved
halleluYah, He is with me
halleluYah, i rest secure
Keep on, keepin' on.
This morning my ceramics class had to sit and watch two well-known artists do a workshop. Chuck Hindes and Ron Meyer are two cuties in probably their mid seventies still creating ceramic pieces with every ounce of energy in them. Though unusual and odd to the modern day person, there is something about the organic shapes of their work and the cognitive thought behind it. Sitting there I wanted to know what inspired them and what they did on days when they did not feel creative because frankly, I have those all the time. They responded basically with fact-of-the-matter answers like "You just have to work and keep on working and then hope you get a little creative in the process."
There are so many times in life when I am like that too, I get so dulled out and tired of routine and sometimes I just don't feel like continuing. But, when I keep trying and trying and I do not give in...something remarkable usually happens and all of the sudden, I am still standing and I am facing circumstances of which I had not planned. Good or bad, whatever comes will come and all we have to do is keep walking in the circumstances the providence of God has placed us.
"Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief." Mark 9:24
Failures and all. Pain and all. Fears and all. We must keep trying and never lose hope in God's mercy. He knows whats in our hearts and revels in weakness that tries. Try and try, again and again.
Although I am no one to comment on the faith of these two artists, I do know Ron said something along the lines of "I am just able to do this and frankly, to this day I still do not know what it is that gives me this talent...". I wanted to stand up and tell him about Jesus, but I resisted.
The individuals faith is between them and God, all we can do is 'press on to that other country and help others do the same'...
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world...I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same."
-CS Lewis
There are so many times in life when I am like that too, I get so dulled out and tired of routine and sometimes I just don't feel like continuing. But, when I keep trying and trying and I do not give in...something remarkable usually happens and all of the sudden, I am still standing and I am facing circumstances of which I had not planned. Good or bad, whatever comes will come and all we have to do is keep walking in the circumstances the providence of God has placed us.
"Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief." Mark 9:24
Failures and all. Pain and all. Fears and all. We must keep trying and never lose hope in God's mercy. He knows whats in our hearts and revels in weakness that tries. Try and try, again and again.
Although I am no one to comment on the faith of these two artists, I do know Ron said something along the lines of "I am just able to do this and frankly, to this day I still do not know what it is that gives me this talent...". I wanted to stand up and tell him about Jesus, but I resisted.
The individuals faith is between them and God, all we can do is 'press on to that other country and help others do the same'...
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world...I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same."
-CS Lewis
Monday, October 24, 2011
Restless Autumn
Restless- characterized by or showing inability to remain at rest; unquiet or uneasy, as a person, the mind, or the heart
The trees are restless before Winter. Their leaves change colors and their branches dance to and fro.
The cool air sweeps away the heat and beckons us to dance to the rhythm of the changing winds.
I feel the cold air tickle the nerve endings in my body to tell me to, "Get moving!" and I find myself ready to run!
This is a season of restlessness reflecting our own inability to remain at rest.
I feel restless as well...life is changing, day by day, moment to moment. We get restless when we feel change occurring in our lives and so often we do not know what to do with it. In a split second our eyes dart from the beauty of the colors dancing around us to the fears ahead of us. Anxiety eats at our souls and turns the beauty of change into uncertainty. Every day we have the opportunity to fear the test tomorrow, the float deadline in a week, the conversation you might have to have with your friend or boyfriend, the next look in the mirror and sense of insecurity...whether small or large matters, we all place tiny seeds of fear within ourselves and we often times do not even know they are there. These earthly desires to have a good body, or be the best student, or to be the most outgoing, or have the most good looking boyfriend, these are all desires of which nothing in this world can really satisfy.
St. Augustine said "Our hearts will always be restless until they rest in God."
Think of the ocean and her waves tossing back and forth or wheat fields ready for harvest as they shimmer from a distance, not the fear of the storm coming or the harvesters shears. Although they may appear restless and shaking in fear, these powers of nature are calling us to see beauty and majesty, not anxiety or fear. They whisper to us this greater knowledge of the Holy.
"I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?" CS Lewis
So what do we do with these desires of which nothing in this world can satisfy?
We must always be aware and on guard not to make these things idols in our lives. All things created by God are good in themselves, but it is when we make them the object of our desire that they turn into things which God did not intend.
"With our loss of the sense of majesty has come the further loss of religious awe and consciousness of the divine Presence. We have lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet God in adoring silence. Modern Christianity is simply not producing the kind of Christian who can appreciate or experience the life in the Spirit." -AW Tozer
How do we recreate this sense of awe?
‘Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. if I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.’
The trees are restless before Winter. Their leaves change colors and their branches dance to and fro.
The cool air sweeps away the heat and beckons us to dance to the rhythm of the changing winds.
I feel the cold air tickle the nerve endings in my body to tell me to, "Get moving!" and I find myself ready to run!
This is a season of restlessness reflecting our own inability to remain at rest.
I feel restless as well...life is changing, day by day, moment to moment. We get restless when we feel change occurring in our lives and so often we do not know what to do with it. In a split second our eyes dart from the beauty of the colors dancing around us to the fears ahead of us. Anxiety eats at our souls and turns the beauty of change into uncertainty. Every day we have the opportunity to fear the test tomorrow, the float deadline in a week, the conversation you might have to have with your friend or boyfriend, the next look in the mirror and sense of insecurity...whether small or large matters, we all place tiny seeds of fear within ourselves and we often times do not even know they are there. These earthly desires to have a good body, or be the best student, or to be the most outgoing, or have the most good looking boyfriend, these are all desires of which nothing in this world can really satisfy.
St. Augustine said "Our hearts will always be restless until they rest in God."
Think of the ocean and her waves tossing back and forth or wheat fields ready for harvest as they shimmer from a distance, not the fear of the storm coming or the harvesters shears. Although they may appear restless and shaking in fear, these powers of nature are calling us to see beauty and majesty, not anxiety or fear. They whisper to us this greater knowledge of the Holy.
"I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?" CS Lewis
So what do we do with these desires of which nothing in this world can satisfy?
We must always be aware and on guard not to make these things idols in our lives. All things created by God are good in themselves, but it is when we make them the object of our desire that they turn into things which God did not intend.
"With our loss of the sense of majesty has come the further loss of religious awe and consciousness of the divine Presence. We have lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet God in adoring silence. Modern Christianity is simply not producing the kind of Christian who can appreciate or experience the life in the Spirit." -AW Tozer
How do we recreate this sense of awe?
‘Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. if I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.’
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Why?
Why do I read the Bible? Why has faith become such an important part of my life? What has it done for me?
Every day I go through motions, I live my life–I wake up, I brush my teeth, I eat breakfast, I go to class, eat lunch with someone if I'm lucky, I work at the coffee shop or babysit, then I work out or go out with friends. All day long I interact with people and I experience so much. I could choose to live a black and white life, with maybe a few grays here and there, or I could actually paint with color and live to the sounds of a symphony.
Through my faith, I have found my significance. I have a reason for living every day that requires all of me yet nothing of me. By GRACE I have been set FREE and I have been made NEW. I don't have to continue living in dullness, in pain, in suffering; I now live whether its in dying or in living, I live for Christ.
"If we live, we live to the Lord; if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we are living or dying we belong to the Lord." Romans 14:8
"To LIVE is Christ, to die is GAIN." Phil 1:21
"I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God. Who loved me and gave himself for me." Gal 2:20
Without Jesus my life means nothing & all I do is nothing.
"The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord stand forever" Isa 40:8
Amidst all our every day activities may we hear the voice of our shepherd carried by the wind, May we hear and come running to Him knowing He will comfort us & provide us with all we need.
Have you ever heard a song so beautiful you never wanted it to stop or seen a sunset you never wanted to go away?
These are temporary sweet reminders of Jesus' faithful presence beneath it all, He is calling us to remember Him, but it is a soft whisper...its in the songs around us, quiet burst of a blossom, the babies hatching, even the sound of our own heart beat beckoning us to remember there is a reason we are here...
Every day I go through motions, I live my life–I wake up, I brush my teeth, I eat breakfast, I go to class, eat lunch with someone if I'm lucky, I work at the coffee shop or babysit, then I work out or go out with friends. All day long I interact with people and I experience so much. I could choose to live a black and white life, with maybe a few grays here and there, or I could actually paint with color and live to the sounds of a symphony.
Through my faith, I have found my significance. I have a reason for living every day that requires all of me yet nothing of me. By GRACE I have been set FREE and I have been made NEW. I don't have to continue living in dullness, in pain, in suffering; I now live whether its in dying or in living, I live for Christ.
"If we live, we live to the Lord; if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we are living or dying we belong to the Lord." Romans 14:8
"To LIVE is Christ, to die is GAIN." Phil 1:21
"I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God. Who loved me and gave himself for me." Gal 2:20
Without Jesus my life means nothing & all I do is nothing.
"The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord stand forever" Isa 40:8
Amidst all our every day activities may we hear the voice of our shepherd carried by the wind, May we hear and come running to Him knowing He will comfort us & provide us with all we need.
Have you ever heard a song so beautiful you never wanted it to stop or seen a sunset you never wanted to go away?
These are temporary sweet reminders of Jesus' faithful presence beneath it all, He is calling us to remember Him, but it is a soft whisper...its in the songs around us, quiet burst of a blossom, the babies hatching, even the sound of our own heart beat beckoning us to remember there is a reason we are here...
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Hide and go seek!
Did you ever play hide and go seek as a child? I would play with my brother all the time. But, he was so good at that game that every time he hid, I almost never found him. I would search and search and call out his name, but he was always SO hard to find! Eventually he would win and he would laugh at me because the whole time he was right in front of me and I just either looked too hard or completely missed him in the corner. Sometimes he would even follow me around so quietly I never knew he was there! My brother and I would play for hours just sneaking up on each other and relishing the moments of excitement when we found each other.
The same is so often true for us and God. We are all playing this game of hide and go seek with Jesus. We are "it" and He is the one "hiding." As we seek him desperately, we become discouraged when he is not where we want Him to be. He snickers at the fearful child within us as He knows exactly where we are and what is going on in our minds, and all the while He is there watching over us from this mysterious place we have only heard about. We walk around this maze of life, searching for Jesus in all the wrong places, only to realize He has been behind us or in front of us all the time. He is exactly where He needs to be in order to gaze upon you intently and watch over you as you walk the path He has laid out for you.
We keep playing this one game of hide and go seek with God all our lives...seeking Him and finding little glimpses of Him as he whispers in the breeze, laughs in the trees or smiles in the sun, but ONE DAY we will meet him FACE TO FACE and discover a JOY unlike any other.
God is the prize we are searching for. He says, “Seek and you will find. I satisfy. Stop looking in all the wrong places, I am not your future career, I am not money, I am not a perfect man, I am not the body you always dreamed of, I am not straight A's or the approval of people....I AM the treasure. I AM. Nothing else will satisfy."
“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come away with me.” -Song of Solomon 2:13
It may feel like Jesus is hiding from you sometimes, but He is very near to you...He is waiting for you to come to Him.
Try and take some time this week to be in quiet solitude, and when I say try I mean do it. Sit down and turn on some peaceful music (Ill share with you guys if you need some new tunes), or be in silence and really get look for Him in whatever way you want...
The same is so often true for us and God. We are all playing this game of hide and go seek with Jesus. We are "it" and He is the one "hiding." As we seek him desperately, we become discouraged when he is not where we want Him to be. He snickers at the fearful child within us as He knows exactly where we are and what is going on in our minds, and all the while He is there watching over us from this mysterious place we have only heard about. We walk around this maze of life, searching for Jesus in all the wrong places, only to realize He has been behind us or in front of us all the time. He is exactly where He needs to be in order to gaze upon you intently and watch over you as you walk the path He has laid out for you.
We keep playing this one game of hide and go seek with God all our lives...seeking Him and finding little glimpses of Him as he whispers in the breeze, laughs in the trees or smiles in the sun, but ONE DAY we will meet him FACE TO FACE and discover a JOY unlike any other.
God is the prize we are searching for. He says, “Seek and you will find. I satisfy. Stop looking in all the wrong places, I am not your future career, I am not money, I am not a perfect man, I am not the body you always dreamed of, I am not straight A's or the approval of people....I AM the treasure. I AM. Nothing else will satisfy."
“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come away with me.” -Song of Solomon 2:13
It may feel like Jesus is hiding from you sometimes, but He is very near to you...He is waiting for you to come to Him.
Try and take some time this week to be in quiet solitude, and when I say try I mean do it. Sit down and turn on some peaceful music (Ill share with you guys if you need some new tunes), or be in silence and really get look for Him in whatever way you want...
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Little Wren
I am entirely unworthy of the grace and beauty surrounding me but totally thankful...perfect example was when I was sitting on the porch this morning, I journaled about a little bird I saw so Ill just share with you what I learned from him, don't laugh too much at my deep thoughts haha
There flew a bird to the feeder this morning, a small wren with a red head. Upon reaching his goal and snatching a few golden nuggets out of the treasury, another came along, bigger and stronger in size. Frightened the little wren darted up from the feeder only to hit his head on the roof; not once but several times as he continued to fly upwards and not towards the light. Finally escaping the bounds of the cabin porch, my little friend took off into the endless spans of the sky and freed his tiny soul of fear and anxiety.
I understand this little bird, I know what its like to believe in something and feel fully empowered, encouraged and ready to pursue your "dreams" when all of the sudden the world discourages you. The world never hesitates to steal our confidence or to try its best to instill fear and anxiety. Just as you begin to submit to the tiniest bit of cowardliness and forget to trust in your creator, you hit the roof. When we aim for the sky sometimes the roof gets in the way...BUT if we keep trying and set our eyes on the sky, the true Light will lead us to freedom and hope; to an endless spans of eternal glory and everlasting treasures. It is only then that we finally realize the real treasure was not the birdseed at all, the real treasure was what we found in the pursuit of our dreams; the hope of salvation, the freedom from suffering and pain.
We can learn so much from creation around us, it just takes a quieted soul, submitted to God and open to learn. It says in Colossians, through Him all things are created and in Him all things hold together. If He is the root of all living things, the giver of life, the first breath, the beat of our hearts, and the invisible paste that binds all things together in perfect harmony....then HEAR Him in the sounds around you, whatever they may be; FEEL him in the warmth of the sun or even the indescribable presence that comforts you; SMELL the sweetness beneath the smog and the rain before the storm; SEE the world around you ALIVE with Christ Himself!
There flew a bird to the feeder this morning, a small wren with a red head. Upon reaching his goal and snatching a few golden nuggets out of the treasury, another came along, bigger and stronger in size. Frightened the little wren darted up from the feeder only to hit his head on the roof; not once but several times as he continued to fly upwards and not towards the light. Finally escaping the bounds of the cabin porch, my little friend took off into the endless spans of the sky and freed his tiny soul of fear and anxiety.
I understand this little bird, I know what its like to believe in something and feel fully empowered, encouraged and ready to pursue your "dreams" when all of the sudden the world discourages you. The world never hesitates to steal our confidence or to try its best to instill fear and anxiety. Just as you begin to submit to the tiniest bit of cowardliness and forget to trust in your creator, you hit the roof. When we aim for the sky sometimes the roof gets in the way...BUT if we keep trying and set our eyes on the sky, the true Light will lead us to freedom and hope; to an endless spans of eternal glory and everlasting treasures. It is only then that we finally realize the real treasure was not the birdseed at all, the real treasure was what we found in the pursuit of our dreams; the hope of salvation, the freedom from suffering and pain.
We can learn so much from creation around us, it just takes a quieted soul, submitted to God and open to learn. It says in Colossians, through Him all things are created and in Him all things hold together. If He is the root of all living things, the giver of life, the first breath, the beat of our hearts, and the invisible paste that binds all things together in perfect harmony....then HEAR Him in the sounds around you, whatever they may be; FEEL him in the warmth of the sun or even the indescribable presence that comforts you; SMELL the sweetness beneath the smog and the rain before the storm; SEE the world around you ALIVE with Christ Himself!
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