Today in class we studied 1 Peter and one of the verses it took us back to was this verse in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
I know that the conflict that my heart is engaged in is only momentary- this verse gives me that hope. And, when I break through that conflict I am going to know that it was all part of the preparation for eternity. I told someone that this verse was a balm to my soul. I have heard and read this verse numerous times over the many years I have studied but never has it made an impact as it did today. I heard this song the other day and it hit a chord with me...
Monday, November 7, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Days of Gratitude and Wonder
All over Facebook people are putting what they are thankful for in a 30 days of gratitude thing. But why should it be limited to 30 days- shouldn't we be thinking on what we are thankful for 365 days out of the year (or 366 on those crazy leap years)? Why just in November? Why not January? Why not have 31 days of thankfulness for a new year? Eh, maybe I'm just cynical right now. Don't get me wrong- I am thankful for more than I can ever express and I'm pondering how to tie this in to my life and my blog- but I know that for ME, I need to focus on more than 30 days. And then after the season of thankfulness what happens- we get all crazy as we enter the season of Christmas- but for me- this year- I want it to be a season of WONDER.
I have sort of lost my passion, my sense of wonder for the gift that was given to me. I have heard my dad say it before but Jesus is not the reason for the season- we are the reason because we are the reason that He came to be born and fulfill the prophecies for the Messiah. So, my goal this season is live my days of gratitude and wonder and not to let the busyness of life and cynicism that can creep in take over. And more importantly for that attitude of gratitude and wonder to go beyond 30 days, to go beyond November and even December.
This song by Hillsong has been one that has just stuck in my mind over and over.
I have sort of lost my passion, my sense of wonder for the gift that was given to me. I have heard my dad say it before but Jesus is not the reason for the season- we are the reason because we are the reason that He came to be born and fulfill the prophecies for the Messiah. So, my goal this season is live my days of gratitude and wonder and not to let the busyness of life and cynicism that can creep in take over. And more importantly for that attitude of gratitude and wonder to go beyond 30 days, to go beyond November and even December.
This song by Hillsong has been one that has just stuck in my mind over and over.
Monday, October 10, 2011
When to say something...
and when to stay silent? This is something I have been wrestling with lately. If it's not a "non-biblical" issue where is the line? What if it's just something offensive to one or two particular people? What if it's just a generalization? What if other people see and discuss it? What if it's been aired publicly and then that person gets upset (when they brought it up in the first place)? Comments? Suggestions?
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Happy Birthday Dad!
Today is a day that I can't let go by without acknowledging it in some way! Today is my dad's birthday (he is 59- hey, he tells everyone how old I am so I can tell everyone how old he is) :). There are really not enough words to describe how I feel about my earthly father. I know so many people who grow up without a father in the home, with fathers who are tyrants, who lived through years of fear because of their father. I am so blessed that I can say the opposite. These verses in Psalm 22 say it all:
"Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame." Psalm 22:3-5 (ESV)
I have watched my dad through trials/hard times in life and have seen his faith- his trust in Christ and it is such a huge encouragement. I have watched my dad through the good times and have seen the thankfulness to God in those times. I have been blessed- and I hope and pray I never lose sight of that. Love you dad!
A friend posted this song on FB Saturday and as I listened to it- I think it's exactly what my dad would have said as I was growing up and what he would say to this day:
"Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame." Psalm 22:3-5 (ESV)
I have watched my dad through trials/hard times in life and have seen his faith- his trust in Christ and it is such a huge encouragement. I have watched my dad through the good times and have seen the thankfulness to God in those times. I have been blessed- and I hope and pray I never lose sight of that. Love you dad!
A friend posted this song on FB Saturday and as I listened to it- I think it's exactly what my dad would have said as I was growing up and what he would say to this day:
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Pleading for His People
Psalm 3:4 "I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill."
Psalm 4:1 "Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!"
Psalm 6:6-7 "I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes."
Psalm 77:1-3 " I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate my spirit faints."
David was no stranger to pain, anguish, and suffering- and much of it was a result of choices he made and living with the consequences. Does that make his anguish any less real? No, although sometimes I think we tend to brush it aside and say, "He deserved it". Did he, not my place to judge- because in reality, don't I tend to make the same mistakes? Maybe not on the "scale" of his- but sin is sin- period.
The thing that I see over and over from David is who he turned to every single time- His God- the very same God who allowed all of the hurt. Why? Because David knew that God was Sovereign. David knew that he had been called by God to a higher purpose. He knew that God was the KING of kings.
All through the Psalms we see evidence of David turning to God with questions- Why? How long? Who? When? What next? And yet, through the pain, shone glorious truths- truths that he (David) knew about God. Truths that we know about God. Further on in Psalm 77 he said "Then I said, "I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High. I WILL REMEMBER the deeds of the Lord; yes, I WILL REMEMBER your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. YOUR way; O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?" (10-13). David asked questions but he didn't stay in those questions- he didn't dwell on them (hmmm... maybe, just maybe we could learn an important lesson there). He went beyond the questions- he REMEMBERED what had been done- he REMEMBERED God's Sovereignty.
I have some sweet friends who are experiencing some of the pain and anguish that David must have felt. Back in December 2009 they had twins who were born at 25 weeks- both less than a lb. Ethan was 13 oz. and 19 months later they were showing signs of thriving. Rather than taking the chance of giving wrong details I encourage you to read Jared and Sara's blog and see the glory through the pain. You can find it here at Raby's Ramblings. Be sure to note how you can pray. I am asking that the few people who might read this blog to plead, to intercede on their behalf. Romans 8:26 says, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
I firmly believe that as believers we are called to intercede for this family as well. I know this is long but before I go I am putting out one last thing- Ethan needs bone marrow asap! It's a life giver that someone else has that can save his (hmm... another lesson there). Go get tested! I am heading out this week to be tested. You can go here for more info (or I believe check your blood bank as well).
Oh, one last thing- the following is a quote by Sara's brother Nathan who lives in TX and is away from the family during this time (the rest of the family is here)- it pretty much sums it up perfectly.
**all verses are ESV.
Psalm 4:1 "Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!"
Psalm 6:6-7 "I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes."
Psalm 77:1-3 " I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate my spirit faints."
David was no stranger to pain, anguish, and suffering- and much of it was a result of choices he made and living with the consequences. Does that make his anguish any less real? No, although sometimes I think we tend to brush it aside and say, "He deserved it". Did he, not my place to judge- because in reality, don't I tend to make the same mistakes? Maybe not on the "scale" of his- but sin is sin- period.
The thing that I see over and over from David is who he turned to every single time- His God- the very same God who allowed all of the hurt. Why? Because David knew that God was Sovereign. David knew that he had been called by God to a higher purpose. He knew that God was the KING of kings.
All through the Psalms we see evidence of David turning to God with questions- Why? How long? Who? When? What next? And yet, through the pain, shone glorious truths- truths that he (David) knew about God. Truths that we know about God. Further on in Psalm 77 he said "Then I said, "I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High. I WILL REMEMBER the deeds of the Lord; yes, I WILL REMEMBER your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. YOUR way; O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?" (10-13). David asked questions but he didn't stay in those questions- he didn't dwell on them (hmmm... maybe, just maybe we could learn an important lesson there). He went beyond the questions- he REMEMBERED what had been done- he REMEMBERED God's Sovereignty.
I have some sweet friends who are experiencing some of the pain and anguish that David must have felt. Back in December 2009 they had twins who were born at 25 weeks- both less than a lb. Ethan was 13 oz. and 19 months later they were showing signs of thriving. Rather than taking the chance of giving wrong details I encourage you to read Jared and Sara's blog and see the glory through the pain. You can find it here at Raby's Ramblings. Be sure to note how you can pray. I am asking that the few people who might read this blog to plead, to intercede on their behalf. Romans 8:26 says, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
I firmly believe that as believers we are called to intercede for this family as well. I know this is long but before I go I am putting out one last thing- Ethan needs bone marrow asap! It's a life giver that someone else has that can save his (hmm... another lesson there). Go get tested! I am heading out this week to be tested. You can go here for more info (or I believe check your blood bank as well).
Oh, one last thing- the following is a quote by Sara's brother Nathan who lives in TX and is away from the family during this time (the rest of the family is here)- it pretty much sums it up perfectly.
**all verses are ESV.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Nostalgia...
What do these have in common? Cabbage Patch dolls, Pound Puppies, Care Bears, Nancy Drew, DC Talk (old school), NKOTB (sorry dad, had to throw that one in there), and family vacations to places such as Hershey, Gettysburg, and we can't forget Washington or Iowa :)... For me- they are all parts of my past. Earlier this week I was having a blast of nostalgia- I found some things that led to looking at Youtube videos of old school DC Talk and Geoff Moore. It really took me back to a time when things were much simpler. When I look up nostalgia (online because who really uses a paper dictionary anymore?) this is what I find: Nostalgia
: a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition
Looking back can be a good thing but it also can be something that destroys us (look at what happened to Lot's wife when she physically looked back). It is a time that can help us trace God's hand in our lives- a time that helped build our characters- a time that shows us who really matters in our lives and who our true friends are. However, too often we dwell on the past and let it take hold of us in ways that we can't even fully understand. It can affect our present and our future in negative ways- IF we let it.
The important thing to remember is that we can't go forward if we are looking behind us. Paul addresses it in Philippians 3:12-14:
: a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable conditionLooking back can be a good thing but it also can be something that destroys us (look at what happened to Lot's wife when she physically looked back). It is a time that can help us trace God's hand in our lives- a time that helped build our characters- a time that shows us who really matters in our lives and who our true friends are. However, too often we dwell on the past and let it take hold of us in ways that we can't even fully understand. It can affect our present and our future in negative ways- IF we let it.
The important thing to remember is that we can't go forward if we are looking behind us. Paul addresses it in Philippians 3:12-14:
Embrace the past- it's over and can't be changed- but RUN toward the future with hands wide open to grab onto the teachings place in front of us and a heart that uses the wisdom gained!
Friday, June 3, 2011
35 Years Down... A Lifetime to Go
Yep, it's my birthday and I figured what better day to blog on in the month of June (since apparently I am good to blog one day out of a month). This past year has been an interesting year- but in looking back through all of the other years- it's really not been so different. There have been ups and downs, goods and bads, and everything in between. The question I have to ask myself- Have I TRULY been following HIM in all I say and do? In the life I am leading am I living as one totally sold out and committed to Him? Some days I could definitely say yes, some days I could definitely say no- and some days- well, some days I know that I am just lukewarm and that scares me a bit because I know what the Bible says about those who are lukewarm.
My prayer for the upcoming year is simple-
it's that the fire that I have had returns and burns brighter than ever before
it's that I live a life worthy of the calling that has been given to me
it's that I live a life that TRUSTS in THE ONE who is trustworthy
it's to dream the dreams that He has planned for me and not being afraid to take those steps
it's to look in the eyes of the people I come in contact with and see Christ in them no matter how the world sees them
it's to have a pure and holy passion that starts and ends (or doesn't end) with Christ as the center.
My prayer for the upcoming year is simple-
it's that the fire that I have had returns and burns brighter than ever before
it's that I live a life worthy of the calling that has been given to me
it's that I live a life that TRUSTS in THE ONE who is trustworthy
it's to dream the dreams that He has planned for me and not being afraid to take those steps
it's to look in the eyes of the people I come in contact with and see Christ in them no matter how the world sees them
it's to have a pure and holy passion that starts and ends (or doesn't end) with Christ as the center.
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