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?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
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 =)
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