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
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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.
---
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!
Monday, December 7, 2009
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.
---
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.
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.
---
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.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
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.
---
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.
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.
---
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.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
2 Peter 3:8-9
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
---
I've frequently been wondering when I'll ever be seeing God's promises, recently. Sometimes it seems that time has been dragging for soooo long and there are things I want, things I want to change...but I haven't gotten the things I want or seen the changes. Where are your promises in my life, God?
But here I am being a petulant child, not seeing what He's already done and being impatient for the things God has already set aside for me. "You PROOOOMIIIISED..." ::whine whine:: ::STOMP STOMP::
God has the power to give me what I want, but He wants to give me something better. If I just got what I wanted right away, I think the likelihood of me coming to repentance and striving to be a better person would diminish. He does not want me to perish.
God waited 20 years for me to become Christian...and 4 more years for me to get this point (still imperfect). And He'll wait even more for me to be only SLIGHTLY better than I am now.... God is still infinitely patient with me.
He has already given me Christ. And He will not only continue to give me what's best, but He will also give to me at the MOST perfectEST time.
Why? Because He promised.
---
I've frequently been wondering when I'll ever be seeing God's promises, recently. Sometimes it seems that time has been dragging for soooo long and there are things I want, things I want to change...but I haven't gotten the things I want or seen the changes. Where are your promises in my life, God?
But here I am being a petulant child, not seeing what He's already done and being impatient for the things God has already set aside for me. "You PROOOOMIIIISED..." ::whine whine:: ::STOMP STOMP::
God has the power to give me what I want, but He wants to give me something better. If I just got what I wanted right away, I think the likelihood of me coming to repentance and striving to be a better person would diminish. He does not want me to perish.
God waited 20 years for me to become Christian...and 4 more years for me to get this point (still imperfect). And He'll wait even more for me to be only SLIGHTLY better than I am now.... God is still infinitely patient with me.
He has already given me Christ. And He will not only continue to give me what's best, but He will also give to me at the MOST perfectEST time.
Why? Because He promised.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Ezekiel 6:9
Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive, how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes which played the harlot after their idols...
---
How is it possible that God can be hurt by us? That's almost like me being hurt because ants would rather go after food than worship me. Ridiculous, right? Even if they start harvesting my food, I wouldn't be hurt. My reaction would be more of: "grooooosss" upon my discovery of them, squirting them with Formula 409 ("ew, ew, ew...please die. ugh. why are there so many of you?"), wiping them away with a paper towel ("stupid ants"), and then throwing them away ("HA! I am WINNER!"). I wouldn't be hurt...I wouldn't even be angry! They're just not worth that much of my thoughts or heart. Not worth the trouble to care. I would just be slightly annoyed that they invaded my space and then forget about them once I've gotten rid of them.
But God...the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth; the everlasting, *always* living GOD....is hurt by our insignificant (comparatively speaking) ant-like selves. We hurt his Father-heart when we go after things that is so much less valuable and worthy of our time, effort, thoughts, heart.
GOD gets hurt by us. Isn't that so strange?
Very often I feel like the I'm the one getting hurt by His high expectations...(sinner that I am).
---
How is it possible that God can be hurt by us? That's almost like me being hurt because ants would rather go after food than worship me. Ridiculous, right? Even if they start harvesting my food, I wouldn't be hurt. My reaction would be more of: "grooooosss" upon my discovery of them, squirting them with Formula 409 ("ew, ew, ew...please die. ugh. why are there so many of you?"), wiping them away with a paper towel ("stupid ants"), and then throwing them away ("HA! I am WINNER!"). I wouldn't be hurt...I wouldn't even be angry! They're just not worth that much of my thoughts or heart. Not worth the trouble to care. I would just be slightly annoyed that they invaded my space and then forget about them once I've gotten rid of them.
But God...the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth; the everlasting, *always* living GOD....is hurt by our insignificant (comparatively speaking) ant-like selves. We hurt his Father-heart when we go after things that is so much less valuable and worthy of our time, effort, thoughts, heart.
GOD gets hurt by us. Isn't that so strange?
Very often I feel like the I'm the one getting hurt by His high expectations...(sinner that I am).
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Psalm 103:11-12
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
---
Looking up into the sky (especially on such a clear blue sky day like today), I feel like there's no end to it. The blue just goes on and on and on... Even when I try to stretch as tall as I can -- standing on my tippy toes, lifting my arms way above my head, really trying to reach up -- there's still so much space between the tips of my fingers and the end of the sky. Aaaaall that blue sky... that's how much lovingkindness He has toward us.
No matter where I am, by definition, the east will always be on the opposite side of the west. If I'm facing north, the east will be on my right and the west will be on my left; there will never be a circumstance where the east and west will both be on my left side. East and west won't ever meet; the space between them is infinite. That infinite space, infinite distance... that's how far God has taken our sins away from us.
Only God loves us like that and only God takes away our sins like that. And He does all this because He's God. There's truly no one quite like Him.
Amazing love, how can it be? That You my King would die for me?
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
---
Looking up into the sky (especially on such a clear blue sky day like today), I feel like there's no end to it. The blue just goes on and on and on... Even when I try to stretch as tall as I can -- standing on my tippy toes, lifting my arms way above my head, really trying to reach up -- there's still so much space between the tips of my fingers and the end of the sky. Aaaaall that blue sky... that's how much lovingkindness He has toward us.
No matter where I am, by definition, the east will always be on the opposite side of the west. If I'm facing north, the east will be on my right and the west will be on my left; there will never be a circumstance where the east and west will both be on my left side. East and west won't ever meet; the space between them is infinite. That infinite space, infinite distance... that's how far God has taken our sins away from us.
Only God loves us like that and only God takes away our sins like that. And He does all this because He's God. There's truly no one quite like Him.
Amazing love, how can it be? That You my King would die for me?
Sunday, October 25, 2009
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
---
During my horrible procrastinating episode last week, I was web-surfing and I came upon this article: Last Words of Texas Condemned. The article basically lists the "last statement" of people who died through the death penalty. Before they were executed, they were asked "Do you wish to make a last statement?"
Excerpt:
"Sometimes the answer is no. More often it is yes. The responses are catalogued on a Texas Department of Criminal Justice Web site. Many are predictable. Some are provocative. Many proclaim innocence. Some protest the death penalty. Some are profane. Some seek forgiveness. Others grant it. Some thank so many people you'd think it was Oscar night. Some speak to somebody in the witness room. At times, that's a mom.
"Well, Mom," Marcus Cotton said March 3, 2004, "sometimes it works out like this."
"Sometimes it's a victim's mom.
"Where's Mr. Marino's mother? Did you get my letter? Just wanted to let you know, I sincerely meant everything I wrote. I'm sorry for the pain. I am sorry for the life I took from you," Gerald Mitchell said on Oct. 22, 2001."
It was an interesting read. The death penalty issue aside, it got me thinking about punishment and death.
Now, I don't plan on going on a murdering spree, but at a fundamental level, the Texas condemned aren't that much different from me. We have moms; we need food, water, and sleep; we make horrible decisions where sometimes we admit that we made a terrible mistake and other times we deny it; and in the end, we become worm food...whether it be state-mandated or not. God made us mortal. I don't know when/where/how, but I am going to die some time/place/way. With the inevitability of death and after reading people's last words, I wondered, what will my "last statement" be?
I have no idea. I won't even begin to presume that I'm capable of predicting that.
I am sure of this: Jesus has already taken care of my punishment and has made me right with God. So when I die, I will not get the punishment I deserve...which brings a more pertinent question than what my last statement is going to be: how has Christ's death transferred to how I live my life right now? Am I living in whatever fashion I please, or am I living in reflection of what Christ has done?
What Paul wrote to Timothy is what I want to be able to say in the end. I want to be able to say that "I fought the good fight, I finished the course, I have kept the faith". I want to be able to say that I have consistently longed for Him to come. I want to be able to say that I lived, holding onto the eternal life that God has called me. I want to hear from God that I have been a good and faithful servant.
How am I living my life today such that when I'm in heaven, God sees that I did my best while on earth?
---
During my horrible procrastinating episode last week, I was web-surfing and I came upon this article: Last Words of Texas Condemned. The article basically lists the "last statement" of people who died through the death penalty. Before they were executed, they were asked "Do you wish to make a last statement?"
Excerpt:
"Sometimes the answer is no. More often it is yes. The responses are catalogued on a Texas Department of Criminal Justice Web site. Many are predictable. Some are provocative. Many proclaim innocence. Some protest the death penalty. Some are profane. Some seek forgiveness. Others grant it. Some thank so many people you'd think it was Oscar night. Some speak to somebody in the witness room. At times, that's a mom.
"Well, Mom," Marcus Cotton said March 3, 2004, "sometimes it works out like this."
"Sometimes it's a victim's mom.
"Where's Mr. Marino's mother? Did you get my letter? Just wanted to let you know, I sincerely meant everything I wrote. I'm sorry for the pain. I am sorry for the life I took from you," Gerald Mitchell said on Oct. 22, 2001."
It was an interesting read. The death penalty issue aside, it got me thinking about punishment and death.
Now, I don't plan on going on a murdering spree, but at a fundamental level, the Texas condemned aren't that much different from me. We have moms; we need food, water, and sleep; we make horrible decisions where sometimes we admit that we made a terrible mistake and other times we deny it; and in the end, we become worm food...whether it be state-mandated or not. God made us mortal. I don't know when/where/how, but I am going to die some time/place/way. With the inevitability of death and after reading people's last words, I wondered, what will my "last statement" be?
I have no idea. I won't even begin to presume that I'm capable of predicting that.
I am sure of this: Jesus has already taken care of my punishment and has made me right with God. So when I die, I will not get the punishment I deserve...which brings a more pertinent question than what my last statement is going to be: how has Christ's death transferred to how I live my life right now? Am I living in whatever fashion I please, or am I living in reflection of what Christ has done?
What Paul wrote to Timothy is what I want to be able to say in the end. I want to be able to say that "I fought the good fight, I finished the course, I have kept the faith". I want to be able to say that I have consistently longed for Him to come. I want to be able to say that I lived, holding onto the eternal life that God has called me. I want to hear from God that I have been a good and faithful servant.
How am I living my life today such that when I'm in heaven, God sees that I did my best while on earth?
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Jeremiah 31:31-34
"Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
---
We're living in the days of the new covenant. We don't need to go to a Levite, do ritual cleansing, sacrifice animals, and do whatever else to approach God. We can just go to Him. We can KNOW Him, no matter where we're standing...from the least of us to the greatest of us.
God has given us, promise-breakers/sinners, this new covenant just so we can know Him and be His people. He sacrificed His Son for us. This God, who has already done so much, who has already given us what we needed the most (forgiveness)......wouldn't He also generously fulfill our other needs?
It's easy for me to forget what God has done and only see the things that I'm lacking, the things that I need and want. I think that I live a life of scarcity even though in reality I live a life of abundance. God has been very generous with me.
I read somewhere that God asks us to give thanks, not so that He knows He's generous (that's a given anyways), but so that we are reminded of how rich we are. It's easier to cheerfully give (and give things up) when you realize your wealth. So in light of that, I'm thankful for: a roof over my head, money to eat well and even buy frivolous things (like flowers for myself...I did that this week :T), a dad who works hard so he can support me, a mom who worries about my health, a sister who cracks me up all the time, a job and loans so that I'm not such a financial burden to my parents, friends who make time in their busy schedules to call me and meet up with me, a Christian community that keeps me accountable and supports me, the Bible to guide me and teach me and show me what God has done, the opportunity to study at Berkeley (again), my relatively okay ability to memorize things so that I don't fail classes, weekends to stop and smell the roses/catch up on work/go to church and worship/prepare for the upcoming week. God has been very generous. :)
I hope that everyone had a joyful Sunday! Have a wonderful rest of the week.
---
We're living in the days of the new covenant. We don't need to go to a Levite, do ritual cleansing, sacrifice animals, and do whatever else to approach God. We can just go to Him. We can KNOW Him, no matter where we're standing...from the least of us to the greatest of us.
God has given us, promise-breakers/sinners, this new covenant just so we can know Him and be His people. He sacrificed His Son for us. This God, who has already done so much, who has already given us what we needed the most (forgiveness)......wouldn't He also generously fulfill our other needs?
It's easy for me to forget what God has done and only see the things that I'm lacking, the things that I need and want. I think that I live a life of scarcity even though in reality I live a life of abundance. God has been very generous with me.
I read somewhere that God asks us to give thanks, not so that He knows He's generous (that's a given anyways), but so that we are reminded of how rich we are. It's easier to cheerfully give (and give things up) when you realize your wealth. So in light of that, I'm thankful for: a roof over my head, money to eat well and even buy frivolous things (like flowers for myself...I did that this week :T), a dad who works hard so he can support me, a mom who worries about my health, a sister who cracks me up all the time, a job and loans so that I'm not such a financial burden to my parents, friends who make time in their busy schedules to call me and meet up with me, a Christian community that keeps me accountable and supports me, the Bible to guide me and teach me and show me what God has done, the opportunity to study at Berkeley (again), my relatively okay ability to memorize things so that I don't fail classes, weekends to stop and smell the roses/catch up on work/go to church and worship/prepare for the upcoming week. God has been very generous. :)
I hope that everyone had a joyful Sunday! Have a wonderful rest of the week.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
2 Thessalonians 3:3-5
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.
---
What struck me the most in these verses was the sentence structure that Paul uses. Isn't it interesting that the subject of the sentences is God? And that we're the object of the sentences?
Going through most of my day, I generally think of myself as the subject performing the verb. I turn off the alarm clock. I brush my teeth. I eat breakfast. I study textbooks. I take lecture notes. I eat lunch. I watch TV. I do homework. I eat dinner. I take a shower. I put on pajamas... When it comes to my day-to-day living, I'm the subject!
So when it comes to my relationship with God, this same mentality transfers and I start thinking that I'm doing the heavy lifting in the relationship -- that I *protect* myself from the evil one; that I *direct* my heart towards God and Christ; that I *am* the main character, the mover, the actor in my life -- forgetting that God is actually the one who started it all.
These verses reminded me that God is the subject, the actor, in my life; and that I am the object, the recipient, of His actions.
Switching to God as the subject and me as the object signifies two things:
1. Rest -- God is faithful. God is strong. God is powerful. God is wise. God is loving. And the God who is all these things (and more!) is the one acting in our lives. We don't need to be Martha's, rushing around and trying to juggle all the balls. God will catch all the balls we drop, gradually handing them back to us one by one as He teaches us and trains us and strengthens us to be better jugglers (catching the balls we still drop, even though He's teaching us). We can rest! Sit at Jesus's feet like Mary, marvel at His love, lean on His greatness, take joy in His company, and listen to His words. He is in control.
2. Obedience -- God will always be the one acting in our lives; however, sometimes we don't want Him to be. Our hearts are so stubborn! I so frequently forget that God is the main actor because I think my life is about me. My desires, my needs, my pride, my shame, my abilities, my worries, and my fears precede His work. What nerve! His work is greater than me or anything I can do. Not only that, He has molded me for a purpose; He's the one who created me. Yet, when He tells me to come to Him and listen, I dig my heels in and say, "Nope, I don't want to." (Oh man...the sin! Definitely a pot trying to mold the potter. :T) God called me to worship, to trust, and to serve. God<subject> commands<verb> me<object> to obey.
---
If there is one thing I know for sure, it's that God is love. He's love. And because He is love, He gives us rest and commands. While we were still sinners, God sacrificed His Son so that we could go to Him and be amazed and change into the daughters He created us to be. Knowing that God loves us as we are, sins and all, we can rest; and knowing that God loves us so much as to not leave us where we are, as imperfect human beings, we can trust and obey. God is love. Isn't it so wonderful that our God, who is love, is the one acting in our lives?
^____________________^
---
What struck me the most in these verses was the sentence structure that Paul uses. Isn't it interesting that the subject of the sentences is God? And that we're the object of the sentences?
Going through most of my day, I generally think of myself as the subject performing the verb. I turn off the alarm clock. I brush my teeth. I eat breakfast. I study textbooks. I take lecture notes. I eat lunch. I watch TV. I do homework. I eat dinner. I take a shower. I put on pajamas... When it comes to my day-to-day living, I'm the subject!
So when it comes to my relationship with God, this same mentality transfers and I start thinking that I'm doing the heavy lifting in the relationship -- that I *protect* myself from the evil one; that I *direct* my heart towards God and Christ; that I *am* the main character, the mover, the actor in my life -- forgetting that God is actually the one who started it all.
These verses reminded me that God is the subject, the actor, in my life; and that I am the object, the recipient, of His actions.
Switching to God as the subject and me as the object signifies two things:
1. Rest -- God is faithful. God is strong. God is powerful. God is wise. God is loving. And the God who is all these things (and more!) is the one acting in our lives. We don't need to be Martha's, rushing around and trying to juggle all the balls. God will catch all the balls we drop, gradually handing them back to us one by one as He teaches us and trains us and strengthens us to be better jugglers (catching the balls we still drop, even though He's teaching us). We can rest! Sit at Jesus's feet like Mary, marvel at His love, lean on His greatness, take joy in His company, and listen to His words. He is in control.
2. Obedience -- God will always be the one acting in our lives; however, sometimes we don't want Him to be. Our hearts are so stubborn! I so frequently forget that God is the main actor because I think my life is about me. My desires, my needs, my pride, my shame, my abilities, my worries, and my fears precede His work. What nerve! His work is greater than me or anything I can do. Not only that, He has molded me for a purpose; He's the one who created me. Yet, when He tells me to come to Him and listen, I dig my heels in and say, "Nope, I don't want to." (Oh man...the sin! Definitely a pot trying to mold the potter. :T) God called me to worship, to trust, and to serve. God<subject> commands<verb> me<object> to obey.
---
If there is one thing I know for sure, it's that God is love. He's love. And because He is love, He gives us rest and commands. While we were still sinners, God sacrificed His Son so that we could go to Him and be amazed and change into the daughters He created us to be. Knowing that God loves us as we are, sins and all, we can rest; and knowing that God loves us so much as to not leave us where we are, as imperfect human beings, we can trust and obey. God is love. Isn't it so wonderful that our God, who is love, is the one acting in our lives?
^____________________^
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Unchanging
"For I the Lord do not change, therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." Malachi 3:6
So true. BEAUTIFUL VERSE. Changes are hard. Shakes us up quite often. But one thing doesn't change: our UNCHANGING GOD! What a glorious promise and hope.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Full Fulfillment, and More
"I will bring them home from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria, and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and Lebanon, till there is no room for them." Zechariah 10:10
Yesterday, I totally failed to look to God and seek Him before all things. I ended up wasting hours on the internet because I didn't "feel good." Woke up this morning pretty disappointed in myself, and wanted to continue to dwell in my sin and skip class just because I'm sick.
I read over Zechariah 9 and 10 for almost half an hour, wasn't sure what God was trying to say, because Zechariah is filled with prophesies and post millennial eschatological crazy stuff that I don't really get. But this verse spoke of Egypt...and I remember that Egypt often represented a place that the Israelites didn't want to be. And so for me, Egypt was this sin that I wanted to leave behind for good.
Later, I also learned that this verse was speaking of God's fulfillment of His Palestian covenant, where God promises to bring the scattered Israelites back into the land that He promised. Not only does God promise to bring the Israelites back home, but it says that the lands will be filled until there is no more room. This reminded me that 1) GOD is the one who delivers, and that 2) He fulfills His promises of deliverance to the MAX.
Thus, taking the full fulfillment idea to heart, I knew that I really had to turn back to God, believing that Jesus is the only one who could completely and abundantly meet my hopes and needs, and obviously not my sin. Spent an hour after my 8am just praying today. Haven't done that for so long. I encourage you to do the same. It does wonders. Today was such an AWESOME DAY even though all I really did was go to class for many many hours. But my heart was a lot more whole despite the snot, sneezes, and coughing seizures. =)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Jeremiah 17:9-10
"The heart is more deceitful than all else
And is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?
"I, the LORD, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds."
---
One of the things that I've been struggling with this past week is really, truly spending time alone with God. Quiet time is God's time -- a time to be in awe of His greatness; to fear Him in view of His righteousness and my sinfulness; to reflect on all that He has done; to rest in His mercies; to re-establish trust in His promises; to learn more and be rebuked by Him; to find joy and bask in His love.
Quiet time is time to be spent with HIM.......
...and yet, last week, my mind so often wandered to what to share from my QTs that would encourage you girls, rather than being focused on God. Oh man. My heart! The sinfulness!!! The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind -- but my mind kept wandering from Him during His time.
I'm not blaming any of you for my struggle; this is not any of your faults. This all stems from my deceitful and desperately sick heart. Who can understand it? I can't...and it's MY heart!
I'm constantly amazed by how my heart can twist something good into something bad. To all intents and purposes, loving all of you and trying to be a good sister is a pretty good thing -- in fact, it's the second greatest commandment. To all intents and purposes, encouraging all of you is also a pretty good thing. But replacing God, who should be first and foremost in my life, with anything is sin. Also, if I were to be completely honest with myself, I kept on getting distracted because I was proud in my ability to share something inspiring and had a desire to show off. So COMPLETELY ridiculous, right? Completely ridiculous.
---
God knows my heart.
If I think about the righteousness of God and the hypocrisies of my heart...that GOD knows my heart is really frightening. God can judge my heart for what it TRULY is and deal His wrath accordingly. He can knock me dead and send me to hell; it's what I deserve. Instead of doing that though, He sent Jesus Christ and gave the wrath intended for me to His Son. So incomprehensible. But so amazing.
In my struggle with this sin, I've experienced God's power and faithfulness. Whenever I've been distracted while doing QTs, I've been commanding Satan to get away from me and asking God to help me focus just on Him. Today, I had such an amazing time. I don't know of anyone who works so hard to know me, making up for all my inadequacies just so that I can come to Him. I was scared of sharing QTs anymore because of my deceitful heart, but ionno...my deceitful heart is nothing compared to the power and grace of God. My fear is becoming a less crippling fear. I can't help but love all y'all anyhow. You girls have been so encouraging!
And is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?
"I, the LORD, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds."
---
One of the things that I've been struggling with this past week is really, truly spending time alone with God. Quiet time is God's time -- a time to be in awe of His greatness; to fear Him in view of His righteousness and my sinfulness; to reflect on all that He has done; to rest in His mercies; to re-establish trust in His promises; to learn more and be rebuked by Him; to find joy and bask in His love.
Quiet time is time to be spent with HIM.......
...and yet, last week, my mind so often wandered to what to share from my QTs that would encourage you girls, rather than being focused on God. Oh man. My heart! The sinfulness!!! The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind -- but my mind kept wandering from Him during His time.
I'm not blaming any of you for my struggle; this is not any of your faults. This all stems from my deceitful and desperately sick heart. Who can understand it? I can't...and it's MY heart!
I'm constantly amazed by how my heart can twist something good into something bad. To all intents and purposes, loving all of you and trying to be a good sister is a pretty good thing -- in fact, it's the second greatest commandment. To all intents and purposes, encouraging all of you is also a pretty good thing. But replacing God, who should be first and foremost in my life, with anything is sin. Also, if I were to be completely honest with myself, I kept on getting distracted because I was proud in my ability to share something inspiring and had a desire to show off. So COMPLETELY ridiculous, right? Completely ridiculous.
---
God knows my heart.
If I think about the righteousness of God and the hypocrisies of my heart...that GOD knows my heart is really frightening. God can judge my heart for what it TRULY is and deal His wrath accordingly. He can knock me dead and send me to hell; it's what I deserve. Instead of doing that though, He sent Jesus Christ and gave the wrath intended for me to His Son. So incomprehensible. But so amazing.
In my struggle with this sin, I've experienced God's power and faithfulness. Whenever I've been distracted while doing QTs, I've been commanding Satan to get away from me and asking God to help me focus just on Him. Today, I had such an amazing time. I don't know of anyone who works so hard to know me, making up for all my inadequacies just so that I can come to Him. I was scared of sharing QTs anymore because of my deceitful heart, but ionno...my deceitful heart is nothing compared to the power and grace of God. My fear is becoming a less crippling fear. I can't help but love all y'all anyhow. You girls have been so encouraging!
John 1:42
[Andrew] brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
This verse reminded me of the verse in Luke 22:61, after Peter denied Jesus thrice:
The Lord turned and looked at Peter.
I realized that when Jesus looked at Peter for the very first time, He already knew everything that would happen in the span of his life and ministry as well as Peter's; He already knew the ups and downs Peter would go through, He knew how Peter would walk on water and then fear and sink, and He knew how Peter would deny Him in the end. And despite the knowledge that Peter would fail and fail Him again, Jesus welcomed him and asked him to follow Him.
This made me realize how Jesus really keeps no records of wrongs, neither wrongs committed in the past, present, or future. God's forgiveness extends beyond the bounds of time and space. He already knows how we're going to fail, but He loves us anyway.
When I sin, I tend to have a very human perspective on God's forgiveness. I know in my head that he has forgiven me, but I think that He still thinks about it, that He still remembers. But I don't think that's true forgiveness. In one of his messages, Min said that when God forgives, He doesn't even remember the wrong. He doesn't even remember. That is so amazing. So when God looks at me, there is nothing but compassion and forgiveness in His eyes, just like the way he looked at Peter.
This verse reminded me of the verse in Luke 22:61, after Peter denied Jesus thrice:
The Lord turned and looked at Peter.
I realized that when Jesus looked at Peter for the very first time, He already knew everything that would happen in the span of his life and ministry as well as Peter's; He already knew the ups and downs Peter would go through, He knew how Peter would walk on water and then fear and sink, and He knew how Peter would deny Him in the end. And despite the knowledge that Peter would fail and fail Him again, Jesus welcomed him and asked him to follow Him.
This made me realize how Jesus really keeps no records of wrongs, neither wrongs committed in the past, present, or future. God's forgiveness extends beyond the bounds of time and space. He already knows how we're going to fail, but He loves us anyway.
When I sin, I tend to have a very human perspective on God's forgiveness. I know in my head that he has forgiven me, but I think that He still thinks about it, that He still remembers. But I don't think that's true forgiveness. In one of his messages, Min said that when God forgives, He doesn't even remember the wrong. He doesn't even remember. That is so amazing. So when God looks at me, there is nothing but compassion and forgiveness in His eyes, just like the way he looked at Peter.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Isaiah 66:1-2
Thus says the LORD,
"Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that I may rest?"
"For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,"
declares the LORD.
"But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit,
and who trembles at My word."
---
Seriously, what is there that I can do for God? Anything I can possibly do pales in comparison to what He has already done. God doesn't need me.....
How lucky are we then... that GOD chooses to look at us? Pretty darn lucky. :)
I'm thankful for: blue skies; crisp weather; the smell of coffee; green trees; a new morning(!); a day full of new possibilities, blessings, and growth; good friends; a loving family; and a peace that transcends all understanding...through the work of the Holy Spirit, the blood of Jesus Christ, and the graciousness of God.
"Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that I may rest?"
"For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,"
declares the LORD.
"But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit,
and who trembles at My word."
---
Seriously, what is there that I can do for God? Anything I can possibly do pales in comparison to what He has already done. God doesn't need me.....
How lucky are we then... that GOD chooses to look at us? Pretty darn lucky. :)
I'm thankful for: blue skies; crisp weather; the smell of coffee; green trees; a new morning(!); a day full of new possibilities, blessings, and growth; good friends; a loving family; and a peace that transcends all understanding...through the work of the Holy Spirit, the blood of Jesus Christ, and the graciousness of God.
Friday, October 2, 2009
I have this pigeon infestation outside the window of my bedroom (similar to the problem Christine and Alice had last year but far less severe, and far less bird poop). I was sitting on my bed reading when I hear the sound of the mother bird flying back to the nest to feed her two chicks. I watched the feeding frenzy out of curiosity and it was just awful. The two chicks were clawing and screaming to get food from the momma pigeon. They were competing for her attention, and did everything they could to get as much food for themselves and prevent food from entering their pigeon sibling's mouth. This went on for a good 20 minutes.
I don't know what it was about this scene that made me unhappy. I know they're just animals, and are trying to do everything they can to ensure their own survival. But maybe deep down I was thinking that we as humans aren't that much better. We have social niceties and try to do good to others, but only to the extent that it doesn't injure ourselves. If it were a matter of pure survival, people are just as likely to sacrifice others' well being for the sake of their own.
This brought me to think about what I've been reading about Ruth in my qts. She had the choice of ensuring her own survival when Naomi gave her the choice to go back to her family and find a new husband. But instead of grasping that opportunity, she gave herself up for Naomi's sake.
And Ruth's sacrifice is a picture of Jesus' even more perfect sacrifice for us. He gave up everything so that we could have life. His model is how we should live and love others.
It gives me hope that I can rely on God to continue love and perserve in faithfulness even when everything and everyone else disappoints and falls short.
I don't know what it was about this scene that made me unhappy. I know they're just animals, and are trying to do everything they can to ensure their own survival. But maybe deep down I was thinking that we as humans aren't that much better. We have social niceties and try to do good to others, but only to the extent that it doesn't injure ourselves. If it were a matter of pure survival, people are just as likely to sacrifice others' well being for the sake of their own.
This brought me to think about what I've been reading about Ruth in my qts. She had the choice of ensuring her own survival when Naomi gave her the choice to go back to her family and find a new husband. But instead of grasping that opportunity, she gave herself up for Naomi's sake.
And Ruth's sacrifice is a picture of Jesus' even more perfect sacrifice for us. He gave up everything so that we could have life. His model is how we should live and love others.
It gives me hope that I can rely on God to continue love and perserve in faithfulness even when everything and everyone else disappoints and falls short.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Psalm 73
v.1-3
Surely God is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!
But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps had almost slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
v.21-24
When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within,
Then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
With Your counsel You will guide me,
And afterward receive me to glory.
---
Sometimes I really, really, REALLY chew over whether or not I'm good enough for God (like a couple minutes ago). I've done a lot of stupid things in the past and I continue to do stupid things now and I don't think I'll ever get done with doing stupid things in the future. (Stupid being a euphemism for horribly sinful.) How can I ever be good enough for God?
At some point though, the Bible(most of the time)/other-people(some of the time)/my-saner-self(rarely) smacks me on the back of my head, and says, "DUH. You're incredibly flawed and sinful. OF COURSE you're not good enough for God. What is there even to think about?" (Oh man, what a slap to the face...a painful dash of reality. RE-JECTED.)
Luckily... THANKFULLY, the healing dose of reality follows the painful one: "God has taken hold of your right hand, and He will guide you with His counsel, and afterward receive you to glory. Whether you're good enough for God never mattered in the first place. God has TAKEN HOLD of you."
He's taken hold of me, a stinky, snarling, ignorant beast.
Amazering. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!
---
v.28
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works.
Surely God is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!
But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps had almost slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
v.21-24
When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within,
Then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
With Your counsel You will guide me,
And afterward receive me to glory.
---
Sometimes I really, really, REALLY chew over whether or not I'm good enough for God (like a couple minutes ago). I've done a lot of stupid things in the past and I continue to do stupid things now and I don't think I'll ever get done with doing stupid things in the future. (Stupid being a euphemism for horribly sinful.) How can I ever be good enough for God?
At some point though, the Bible(most of the time)/other-people(some of the time)/my-saner-self(rarely) smacks me on the back of my head, and says, "DUH. You're incredibly flawed and sinful. OF COURSE you're not good enough for God. What is there even to think about?" (Oh man, what a slap to the face...a painful dash of reality. RE-JECTED.)
Luckily... THANKFULLY, the healing dose of reality follows the painful one: "God has taken hold of your right hand, and He will guide you with His counsel, and afterward receive you to glory. Whether you're good enough for God never mattered in the first place. God has TAKEN HOLD of you."
He's taken hold of me, a stinky, snarling, ignorant beast.
Amazering. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!
---
v.28
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works.
The Perfect Refuge
6 Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
7 The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
7 The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
-Nahum 1: 6-7 (ESV)
you will go into hiding;
you will seek a refuge from the enemy.
12 All your fortresses are like fig trees
with first-ripe figs—
if shaken they fall
into the mouth of the eater.
-Nahum 3:11-12 (ESV)
I read through Nahum this morning. Lots of wrath, fire, and boom, Boom! BOOM!!! These two passages stood out to me- both having to do with the question, "Where is my refuge?" In light of what Danny spoke about last night, I confess that so often, I try to hide behind a certain image, a big smile, good performance, busy-ness...but Nahum 3 describes these places of refuge as a fig tree that you can shake and then all the figs are shaken off, leaving you exposed and naked. God, however, is the only refuge that cannot be shaken. Reminded to really find my security and identity in God today, to go to Him for refuge and protection, and not try to mask my brokenness because Jesus died for me and has overcome this world =)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Psalm 51
v.16-17
For You do not delight in sacrifice,
otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God,
You will not despise.
---
Am I focusing on doing, focusing on what I can do for God...
....than focusing on God?
---
Prayer Request:
I'm pretty sure I'm getting sick, girlies. It's not so bad, but please pray for my health. That if it's for God's glory, that it'll pass by quickly.
For You do not delight in sacrifice,
otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God,
You will not despise.
---
Am I focusing on doing, focusing on what I can do for God...
....than focusing on God?
---
Prayer Request:
I'm pretty sure I'm getting sick, girlies. It's not so bad, but please pray for my health. That if it's for God's glory, that it'll pass by quickly.
Swarming Thoughts
I've been studying here at Mainstacks since early evening and am still currently here as I write. Throughout my studying time though, I find my mind to have the tendency to inadvertently wander around and be intruded upon with many many thoughts that are NOT related to human anatomy (which is what my lab exam this week is on)... These thoughts are very distracting and cause me to be unable to focus and absorb the material I desperately need to learn. And it's not that I want to or intentionally think about certain things, but often times different things just trigger thoughts or memories of the past that just clutter my brain and cause me to be unable to focus and be productive, not to mention hinder me from "moving on". The Bible verse that came to my mind immediately was one that Sally gave me recently from 2 Corinthians 10:5, which reads:
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
I kept on repeating the last part to myself, asking God to please TAKE CAPTIVE MY EVERY THOUGHT and MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO YOU. This is the verse that I use these days in my defense whenever swarming thoughts preoccupy my mind.
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
I kept on repeating the last part to myself, asking God to please TAKE CAPTIVE MY EVERY THOUGHT and MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO YOU. This is the verse that I use these days in my defense whenever swarming thoughts preoccupy my mind.
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Good Shepherd
"And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God..." Micah 5:4
1. Jesus is a shepherd who stands while shepherding. That means He's ready to catch us, save us, discipline us- He's always watching out for us. I always imagined shepherds sitting on rocks and petting the sheep and playing harps, but shepherding is a dirty job that Jesus does with care.
2. Jesus shepherds in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Like stated before, shepherds have dirty jobs. Sheep don't smell like flowers (but my apt does...hehehe) and the weather is probably really hot and dry. He probably didn't wash his hair with shampoo and conditioner in the morning and his clothes probably don't smell like Tide. He probably doesn't wear cool shades or drink vitamin water or lemon lime gatorade. It's just not that pleasant. Yet, it's done in the majesty of His name. This passage reminded me that sometimes serving God means getting down and dirty. Even going to the SLC at 7am this morning, I was grumbling already and it's nothing like being a shepherd. But it should be done in the majesty of His name. When it's about His glory, everything else just fades away.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Psalm 69, Isaiah 49:23
Psalm 69 is one of my favorite Psalms. It's been one of my heart-cry passages for a long time...for particularly difficult times when there was so much anguish, sorrow, frustration in my heart that I could barely put my thoughts into words (let alone, think) coherently.
Psalm 69:1-3
Save me, O God,
For the waters have threatened my life.
I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me.
I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched;
My eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Reading exactly how I felt somehow always lessened the onslaught of emotion; King David put into words what I couldn't express, making an outlet for all the things that I had pent-up inside. Starting QT today with this Psalm sure did bring back some memories.
----
Isaiah 49:23
Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame.
I'm not sure if I would say that I was hopeful when I was going through those hard times. Full of despair, extremely whiny, and rather self-centered would be more accurate. "My eyes are failing! F-A-I-L-I-N-G, FAILING God!!! Can you please SEE that!?!" (Clearly, my heart isn't *quite* where it's supposed to be....I'm so sorry, King David, for perverting your words. -____-) So yea...um...not very hopeful waiting. But, it's strange, right now, I don't feel too much shame either. What gives?
God's grace. Though it doesn't seem like I was particularly hopeful -- hope was there. Sure, I was complaining and whining and getting frustrated, but if I didn't have one inkling of hope...then I wouldn't have gone to God (does this make sense?). Hope isn't my feeling optimistic, sure, or happy about something, but hope is my being able to go to God and saying, "I can't get through this by myself. I'm so tired, broken, and defeated. Please. Help me. I'm failing." Hope is my being able to go to God. And I'm able to go to God because God has accepted me. Us. And God has accepted us because of the blood of Jesus, whom He sent to save us. God's grace!
----
Strangely, I think I had more hope during hard times than I do now.
I can't remember the last time I cried out to God about *all* my troubles.
Psalm 69:13
But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable time;
O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness,
Answer me with Your saving truth.
God wants my cries, wants me to tell Him what's lacking in my life. He wants me to go to Him for everything, even if I'm not so good at waiting. And then, at an acceptable time, He will answer me with His saving truth.
God, you are so good to me.
Psalm 69:1-3
Save me, O God,
For the waters have threatened my life.
I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me.
I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched;
My eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Reading exactly how I felt somehow always lessened the onslaught of emotion; King David put into words what I couldn't express, making an outlet for all the things that I had pent-up inside. Starting QT today with this Psalm sure did bring back some memories.
----
Isaiah 49:23
Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame.
I'm not sure if I would say that I was hopeful when I was going through those hard times. Full of despair, extremely whiny, and rather self-centered would be more accurate. "My eyes are failing! F-A-I-L-I-N-G, FAILING God!!! Can you please SEE that!?!" (Clearly, my heart isn't *quite* where it's supposed to be....I'm so sorry, King David, for perverting your words. -____-) So yea...um...not very hopeful waiting. But, it's strange, right now, I don't feel too much shame either. What gives?
God's grace. Though it doesn't seem like I was particularly hopeful -- hope was there. Sure, I was complaining and whining and getting frustrated, but if I didn't have one inkling of hope...then I wouldn't have gone to God (does this make sense?). Hope isn't my feeling optimistic, sure, or happy about something, but hope is my being able to go to God and saying, "I can't get through this by myself. I'm so tired, broken, and defeated. Please. Help me. I'm failing." Hope is my being able to go to God. And I'm able to go to God because God has accepted me. Us. And God has accepted us because of the blood of Jesus, whom He sent to save us. God's grace!
----
Strangely, I think I had more hope during hard times than I do now.
I can't remember the last time I cried out to God about *all* my troubles.
Psalm 69:13
But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable time;
O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness,
Answer me with Your saving truth.
God wants my cries, wants me to tell Him what's lacking in my life. He wants me to go to Him for everything, even if I'm not so good at waiting. And then, at an acceptable time, He will answer me with His saving truth.
God, you are so good to me.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Isaiah 46:3-11
Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;
Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.
To whom would you liken Me
And make Me equal and compare Me,
That we would be alike?
Those who lavish gold from the purse
And weigh silver on the scale
Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
They bow down, indeed they worship it.
They lift it upon the shoulder and carry it;
They set it in its place and it stands there.
It does not move from its place.
Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer;
It cannot deliver him from his distress.
Remember this, and be assured;
Recall it to mind, you transgressors.
Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, 'My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';
Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;
Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.
To whom would you liken Me
And make Me equal and compare Me,
That we would be alike?
Those who lavish gold from the purse
And weigh silver on the scale
Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
They bow down, indeed they worship it.
They lift it upon the shoulder and carry it;
They set it in its place and it stands there.
It does not move from its place.
Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer;
It cannot deliver him from his distress.
Remember this, and be assured;
Recall it to mind, you transgressors.
Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, 'My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';
Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Isaiah 43:4
I read Isaiah 43 today and this phrase in verse 4 just popped out and made a thump in my heart. What was this phrase?
::drum rrroooollllll:: t-t-t-t-t-t-t-b-rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-ump-t-t-t-t-t-t-t......
"I love you". :-O What?!? For REALZ?!?! SRSLY!?!? ........ :) It's not that I don't believe it; He's demonstrated His love to me in so many ways. So many ways. But the straightfoward, uncluttered, direct "I love you" just really hit home. No rhyme nor reason, no logical explanation -- God loves me. GOD loves me. God LOVES me.
!!1!*GOD*!!11! loves ........ me.
Is it possible to believe it, but still be in disbelief? It's so much more than I deserve.
GOD loves YOU.
::drum rrroooollllll:: t-t-t-t-t-t-t-b-rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-ump-t-t-t-t-t-t-t......
"I love you". :-O What?!? For REALZ?!?! SRSLY!?!? ........ :) It's not that I don't believe it; He's demonstrated His love to me in so many ways. So many ways. But the straightfoward, uncluttered, direct "I love you" just really hit home. No rhyme nor reason, no logical explanation -- God loves me. GOD loves me. God LOVES me.
!!1!*GOD*!!11! loves ........ me.
Is it possible to believe it, but still be in disbelief? It's so much more than I deserve.
GOD loves YOU.
Yay Quiet Time Sharing =)
Dear ICA sisters,
As some of us in Berkeley have been meeting up daily this week for morning prayer and devos, it has been so encouraging to hear how God is transforming us, disciplining us, and loving us. Please use this blog as a way to glorify Christ and encourage one another. I know He will do amazing things as we spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Love,
Vicky
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