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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)