Malachi 3:10

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the window of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows..."

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I stopped doing QTs once I came home to Irvine, but I started up again just recently (albeit at inconsistent times of the day). It was slow going and difficult to do, but last night while I was doing QT, this verse just really startled me and then blessed me that I just became glad all over that I started reading the Bible again. (And it was sorta romantical too cuz right after I finished praying, the clock struck 12 and my mom came into the room and said "Happy New Year!") It's weird. I can't quite explain it, but I feel as though that this is the challenge that God has given me to pursue this year.

I was always under the impression that under no circumstance I could test God. That's what Jesus said when being tempted by Satan in the desert, right? But here, in this verse of a super short book that I've never read before, God says to test Him. Test Him to see if He will pour out blessings until it overflows.

.....say what? Sounds sorta un-Biblical and actually sorta scary. I sorta see God saying, "Who are you to test Me!? I am the potter and you are the clay…do *you* dare tell *Me* what to do?" gaaah… ::Moon runs and hides under bedcovers::

I think the difference between the testing God in Satan's tempting of Jesus and the testing God in this verse lies in their purposes. One says, "Prove Your love for me," and the other says, "You have shown me that You love me and I trust You." God has already shown that He loves us in many, many ways…to test Him by recklessly jumping off a building, to see if He cares, is just being passive aggressive. "I am going to do the stupidest thing I can think of to see how many hoops you’ll jump through for me." That is a sure-fire way to provoke God’s anger. But to actually attempt something, something that requires self-sacrifice….that takes a lot of faith. "I am going to give all that I have for Your purposes and trust that You will not only replace what I gave but give me more." That is soooo difficult to say and do. I'm pretty much a wimp on putting myself out there, trying new things, experiencing change, being uncomfortable....... Bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse sounds super scary.

I want to grow in faith this year. And as scary as it sounds...I will test God. (I just got the goosebumps...can I do this?)

"Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God."
-William Carey

Let Your blessings overflow.


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I'm going through the One Year Bible reading plan again. (In case you were wondering, that's why my QT passages are sorta all over the place.)

I sorta feel as though I'm doing all the sharing...I guess I like blogging more than most people. I think I'm going to stop now so that other people can share too.

Happy 2010!

Do you make resolutions?
http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2009/12/you-say-you-want-a-resolution.html

http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2009/12/21-questions-from-donald-whitney.html

http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2009/12/if-you-only-make-one-resolution.html

Christmas is almost here....

Betelehemu - Nigerian Carol, sung by Mormon Tabernacle Church

Betelehemu, Betelehemu. Bethlehem, Bethlehem.
Awa yi o ri Baba gbojule. We are glad that we have a Father to trust.
Awa y o ri Baba fehenti. We are glad that we have a Father to rely on.

Nibo labi Jesu? Where was Jesus born?
Nibo lagbe bii? Where was he born?

Betelehemu ilu ara, Bethlehem, the city of wonder,
Nibe labi Baba o daju. That is where the Son was born, for sure.

Iyin, iyin, iyin, nifuno. Praise, praise, praise be to him.
Adupe fun o, Adupe fun o, We thank thee, we thank thee,
Adupe fun o jooni, Baba oloreo. We thank thee for this day, Gracious Father.
Iyin fun o Baba anu, Baba toda wasi. Praise be to thee, Merciful Father.

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The language is Yoruba, I think. The gospel is so much bigger than what I think it to be. Transcends language, nation, people group, culture (and everything else in between) barriers. Amazing, isn't it?

Christmas is almost here!

Romans 4:5, 7-8

But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

    Blessed are those whose lawless deeds
        have been forgiven,
    and whose sins have been covered.
    Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD
        will not take into account.

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I forgot.

He loves me as I am...enough to pay the price of my sins.
Blessed am I to be saved through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ has overcome the world.

Psalms

Psalms 130:3-4
If You, LORD, should mark my iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
    That You may be feared.

Psalms 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
    And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

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I'm a sinner and it's frustrating to me that I am.
But God has promised me this: that He has forgiven and that He will always save.

It Depends

Sometimes I think that if I work harder or try harder or study harder, then perhaps I might be able to change the outcome of something, or even dictate the outcome of something. That I can control what happens.

But I am reminded through Romans 9:16 that, "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

I hope that I keep this verse in mind as I finish the rest of this semester, as well as the rest of senior year.

1 John 2:25

This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.