I was put into an odd situation. Clearly I was wrong. That's not what bothered me. The situation was approached with a sense of self worth, pride, and judgement. Quite frankly, by the time it came down to the fact that I was wrong, I didn't care what the dude had to say even though he was speaking words of truth. This person did not talk to me about my problem out of love and desire to see growth. The issue was more of "I'm right, you're wrong. I'm awesome and you flat out suck!"
Instead of responding out of anger, I just bit my lip. Internally, I was fuming but externally I was calm and collected. And then it hit me. The verse thing that pissed me off is the very thing that I am equally guilty of. How often do I come off that way? When I talk to people about certain issues, is my priority a sense of self worth or a desire to see them grow? Is it out of love or is it because I am self seeking? If love isn't the root of my actions, I might as well shut up and go home.
1 Corinthians 13: 1-7
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Eternal Treasure
I am continually humbled with each successive exam. Second round of exams came back and all of the scores were lower than my first round by a letter grade. Last year, I would have freaked out about this. I would have gone into panic mode, locked myself in the library, and never left. I would have focused on my needs, my desires, me, me, me. I'm not saying that I'm satisfied with how I did but I realize that there is something greater in store. I desire to do well but I have an even greater desire: to walk with my Lord and Savior.
I've begun to realize what it means to "walk humbly" this school year. Last year, I thought I was such a hot shot getting the grades that I got. I thought very highly of myself, that I could do anything that I wanted. Worst of all, I thought this was all because of me and my hard work and my intelligence. I didn't praise God and thank Him for the talents that He blessed me with. This year, most of that is gone. I'm fighting to keep up. I'm trying to keep from drowning in the hustle and bustle of this school year. None of my grades are coming easy. Half of them are not what I expected coming into this school year. But through it all, God has granted me peace. I know that these trials are only momentary. I know that God is sovereign and that nothing that I do will determine whether it is His will for me to get into pharmacy school. In submission, I have given this up to God and don't really worry about the grades anymore. Grades are secondary. If I were to get A's and cursed God in the process, it wouldn't be worth it. Even though my grades aren't so hot, God is using this situation to mold me in the man that He wants me to become. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Praise the Lord for He is good! His love endures forever.
I've begun to realize what it means to "walk humbly" this school year. Last year, I thought I was such a hot shot getting the grades that I got. I thought very highly of myself, that I could do anything that I wanted. Worst of all, I thought this was all because of me and my hard work and my intelligence. I didn't praise God and thank Him for the talents that He blessed me with. This year, most of that is gone. I'm fighting to keep up. I'm trying to keep from drowning in the hustle and bustle of this school year. None of my grades are coming easy. Half of them are not what I expected coming into this school year. But through it all, God has granted me peace. I know that these trials are only momentary. I know that God is sovereign and that nothing that I do will determine whether it is His will for me to get into pharmacy school. In submission, I have given this up to God and don't really worry about the grades anymore. Grades are secondary. If I were to get A's and cursed God in the process, it wouldn't be worth it. Even though my grades aren't so hot, God is using this situation to mold me in the man that He wants me to become. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Praise the Lord for He is good! His love endures forever.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Taking a break from 2nd Samuel today. I thought of a passage during prayer meeting today and it was very convicting. Time to blog about everyone's favorite character from Bible children stories: Abraham!
So we've all heard the story about Abraham and his son Isaac. God promised Abraham a son with his wife Sarai and they waited many years. When it seemed likely that God's promise would not be fulfilled due to Sarai's age, she became pregnant with Isaac. After Isaac grew up a bit, God gave Abraham an odd command: sacrifice your son Isaac as a burnt offering. The very next day, Abraham went to do so. Abraham was all set to sacrifice Isaac and God stopped him from doing so. God provided a lamb.
Some people may wonder if this means that God is indecisive. God commands Abraham to kill Isaac and then provides a ram at the last second. I don't see this as God being indecisive but more-so seeing where Abraham's faith was at. God wanted to see how Abraham would respond to his request.
God's command was a loaded one that had many implications. God promised Abraham a son. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. So, if Abraham kills his son, how can he be the father of many nations? Abraham did not worry about such things. He trusted God fully in this situation, shown through his nearly instantaneous obedience to God's command. He knew that God is faithful and holds true to His promises. He knew that Isaac was a gift from God, something that he did not deserve. More than anything, his desire was to obey God and glorify Him.
This is something that I've been struggling with lately, lifting things up to God. There are certain things that I feel like if God were to call me to give up, my heart would hesitate and wrestle with Him. I've been finding that a lot of my prayers are conditional rather than those of genuine surrender to God's will.
"Lord, I lift situation x up to you and acknowledge that you are God and that you are sovereign. Let your will be known and may it be done...BUT I really really really want this to happen."
My prayer is that I can stop saying those conditional prayers, that I can stop thinking that my way is better than God's way and to fully trust and obey His direction in every situation.
So we've all heard the story about Abraham and his son Isaac. God promised Abraham a son with his wife Sarai and they waited many years. When it seemed likely that God's promise would not be fulfilled due to Sarai's age, she became pregnant with Isaac. After Isaac grew up a bit, God gave Abraham an odd command: sacrifice your son Isaac as a burnt offering. The very next day, Abraham went to do so. Abraham was all set to sacrifice Isaac and God stopped him from doing so. God provided a lamb.
Some people may wonder if this means that God is indecisive. God commands Abraham to kill Isaac and then provides a ram at the last second. I don't see this as God being indecisive but more-so seeing where Abraham's faith was at. God wanted to see how Abraham would respond to his request.
God's command was a loaded one that had many implications. God promised Abraham a son. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. So, if Abraham kills his son, how can he be the father of many nations? Abraham did not worry about such things. He trusted God fully in this situation, shown through his nearly instantaneous obedience to God's command. He knew that God is faithful and holds true to His promises. He knew that Isaac was a gift from God, something that he did not deserve. More than anything, his desire was to obey God and glorify Him.
This is something that I've been struggling with lately, lifting things up to God. There are certain things that I feel like if God were to call me to give up, my heart would hesitate and wrestle with Him. I've been finding that a lot of my prayers are conditional rather than those of genuine surrender to God's will.
"Lord, I lift situation x up to you and acknowledge that you are God and that you are sovereign. Let your will be known and may it be done...BUT I really really really want this to happen."
My prayer is that I can stop saying those conditional prayers, that I can stop thinking that my way is better than God's way and to fully trust and obey His direction in every situation.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Patience and Faith
2 Samuel 3-5:5
A fairly long passage today but the story naturally flows and it would have been awkward to stop inbetween.
In summary..
-Abner switches sides and helps David gain control of all of Israel
-Joab, brother of Ashael, murders Abner. This death causes David to mourn as David notes of Abner's unjust death.
-Ish-Bosheth, king over Israel and a part of Saul's house, is murdered by two men in his sleep. These two men report to David and face a more severe punishment than that of the man who killed Saul.
-David becomes king over all of Israel just as God promised.
Here's what I find interesting. Again, David knows that the Lord promised him the throne over all of Israel. David did not grow impatient or anxious with the Lord and trusted in His timing. What strikes me most is David's character through it all. While he is waiting, he is continually acting justly and honoring God through his actions. In no way did David do things to dishonor the Lord. Others did but David refused to condone such behavior as noted by the punishment that such men received. Opportunities came up where David could have just said "Yeah thanks man for doing that. He was an obstacle to taking the throne. Now that he's gone, it's all mine!" but David acted justly.
Another thing to note is how little sense this all must have made while it was going on. David knows that he is supposed to inherit the throne. Earlier in 2nd Samuel, he took the throne over Judah. Then Ish-Bosheth took the throne over Israel. After that Abner, a well renowned leader of Saul's army, joins David's side. Right after he joins David's side, he is murdered by one of David's men. Then after that, Ish-Bosheth is murdered. All of this time, I would have lost focused on God's promise and questioned God for everything going on around me. David did not do this. He held on patiently knowing full-well that God would keep His promise. And He did.
While God never promised that I would be ruler over Israel, a well renowned pharmacist, a loving husband and father, He has promised me something so much greater than the aforementioned. He has promised me a relationship with Him and a spot in His kingdom. Despite these ever present troubles and hardships, let's keep our eyes on what God has in store for us! I can say with confidence and conviction that what God has promised is so much greater than anything that is going on in our lives right now. Set your eyes upon His glory and His kingdom and fix them there.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
A fairly long passage today but the story naturally flows and it would have been awkward to stop inbetween.
In summary..
-Abner switches sides and helps David gain control of all of Israel
-Joab, brother of Ashael, murders Abner. This death causes David to mourn as David notes of Abner's unjust death.
-Ish-Bosheth, king over Israel and a part of Saul's house, is murdered by two men in his sleep. These two men report to David and face a more severe punishment than that of the man who killed Saul.
-David becomes king over all of Israel just as God promised.
Here's what I find interesting. Again, David knows that the Lord promised him the throne over all of Israel. David did not grow impatient or anxious with the Lord and trusted in His timing. What strikes me most is David's character through it all. While he is waiting, he is continually acting justly and honoring God through his actions. In no way did David do things to dishonor the Lord. Others did but David refused to condone such behavior as noted by the punishment that such men received. Opportunities came up where David could have just said "Yeah thanks man for doing that. He was an obstacle to taking the throne. Now that he's gone, it's all mine!" but David acted justly.
Another thing to note is how little sense this all must have made while it was going on. David knows that he is supposed to inherit the throne. Earlier in 2nd Samuel, he took the throne over Judah. Then Ish-Bosheth took the throne over Israel. After that Abner, a well renowned leader of Saul's army, joins David's side. Right after he joins David's side, he is murdered by one of David's men. Then after that, Ish-Bosheth is murdered. All of this time, I would have lost focused on God's promise and questioned God for everything going on around me. David did not do this. He held on patiently knowing full-well that God would keep His promise. And He did.
While God never promised that I would be ruler over Israel, a well renowned pharmacist, a loving husband and father, He has promised me something so much greater than the aforementioned. He has promised me a relationship with Him and a spot in His kingdom. Despite these ever present troubles and hardships, let's keep our eyes on what God has in store for us! I can say with confidence and conviction that what God has promised is so much greater than anything that is going on in our lives right now. Set your eyes upon His glory and His kingdom and fix them there.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
Monday, October 26, 2009
2nd Samuel 2:8-32
As I was reading this, I struggled stuff to meditate on and apply to my life. For the most part, this part of 2nd Samuel talks about how one of Saul's sons, Ish-Bosheth, assumed the throne over Israel while David was king over Judah. The two armies battle is out in a 24 person dagger match which ultimately led to no resolution because all 24 men (12 from each side) died rather than settling a victory. What I find most interesting in this passage is the character of one of the men in David's army, Asahel.
Asahel took it at his own personal goal to kill Abner, leader of Ish-Bosheth's army. Such was not the order from the head of David's army, Joab, or the brother of Asahel. Asahel continually pursued Abner. Abner warned Asahel multiple times to turn back because he did not desire to take Asahel's life but Asahel refused. Abner warned Asahel yet again but again, the recommendation was ignored. Abner was left with no choice but to kill Asahel.
It seems like Asahel's main desire in this situation was to kill Abner for personal gain. Had he done so, David's army likely would have praised Him. Driven by his desire to be glorified, Asahel walked into his own death. So, what drives us? What motivates us to stay in the library for hours reading stuff that we don't even care about? What drives us to stay on the basketball court and shoot jumpers until our arms are about to fall off? Being persistent is not a bad thing but being persistent for selfish reasons can be. The thing that drives us should ultimately be the glory of God. In all the things that we do, that would be our aim, our desire, our goal.
As I was reading this, I struggled stuff to meditate on and apply to my life. For the most part, this part of 2nd Samuel talks about how one of Saul's sons, Ish-Bosheth, assumed the throne over Israel while David was king over Judah. The two armies battle is out in a 24 person dagger match which ultimately led to no resolution because all 24 men (12 from each side) died rather than settling a victory. What I find most interesting in this passage is the character of one of the men in David's army, Asahel.
Asahel took it at his own personal goal to kill Abner, leader of Ish-Bosheth's army. Such was not the order from the head of David's army, Joab, or the brother of Asahel. Asahel continually pursued Abner. Abner warned Asahel multiple times to turn back because he did not desire to take Asahel's life but Asahel refused. Abner warned Asahel yet again but again, the recommendation was ignored. Abner was left with no choice but to kill Asahel.
It seems like Asahel's main desire in this situation was to kill Abner for personal gain. Had he done so, David's army likely would have praised Him. Driven by his desire to be glorified, Asahel walked into his own death. So, what drives us? What motivates us to stay in the library for hours reading stuff that we don't even care about? What drives us to stay on the basketball court and shoot jumpers until our arms are about to fall off? Being persistent is not a bad thing but being persistent for selfish reasons can be. The thing that drives us should ultimately be the glory of God. In all the things that we do, that would be our aim, our desire, our goal.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Christianity and Legalism
I thoroughly enjoyed today's message. I had my share of doubts when the speaker was late but all in all, the Holy Spirit spoke today. Despite the human error, God was victorious as the message was extremely convincing and rather piercing upon my heart.
Complacency is every man's enemy, especially in our relationship with Christ. It's so easy to forget about who God is and what He does for us. We take our eyes off of Jesus (much like Peter did when He was walking on water) and the weight of the world drowns our Spirit. Following God becomes this giant chore and we get caught up behind the legalism of it all rather than the relationship aspect. We continue to do the do's and not do the don'ts, not because of our love for Christ but because that's what we're instructed to do.
Christianity isn't this giant legalist community where people just follow a bunch of laws because some guy up there said so. Christianity is about living in the covenant of grace in which God has allowed us to experience through the life, death, and resurrection of His son, Jesus. Once we have lost sight of this, the devil has effectively won. Gone is the desire to worship God, to serve Him, and to become more like Him by glorifying Him through following His commands. What is left is the attitude that we need to do all these thing's otherwise God is going to frown upon us. There is absolutely nothing that we can do to gain favor in God's eyes. If we follow all of the laws and yet break JUST ONE, we are guilty of breaking the law in its entirety. It is through grace, not legalism, that we will one day enter in the presence of our God and praise Him for eternity.
With each passing moment, I find that I my debt becomes greater but so does God's grace.
Complacency is every man's enemy, especially in our relationship with Christ. It's so easy to forget about who God is and what He does for us. We take our eyes off of Jesus (much like Peter did when He was walking on water) and the weight of the world drowns our Spirit. Following God becomes this giant chore and we get caught up behind the legalism of it all rather than the relationship aspect. We continue to do the do's and not do the don'ts, not because of our love for Christ but because that's what we're instructed to do.
Christianity isn't this giant legalist community where people just follow a bunch of laws because some guy up there said so. Christianity is about living in the covenant of grace in which God has allowed us to experience through the life, death, and resurrection of His son, Jesus. Once we have lost sight of this, the devil has effectively won. Gone is the desire to worship God, to serve Him, and to become more like Him by glorifying Him through following His commands. What is left is the attitude that we need to do all these thing's otherwise God is going to frown upon us. There is absolutely nothing that we can do to gain favor in God's eyes. If we follow all of the laws and yet break JUST ONE, we are guilty of breaking the law in its entirety. It is through grace, not legalism, that we will one day enter in the presence of our God and praise Him for eternity.
With each passing moment, I find that I my debt becomes greater but so does God's grace.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Praising God in Every Moment
Hillsong - Desert Song
Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides
Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames
Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow
Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides
Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames
Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Semester in Review (Halfway Point)
Thinking back, I asked God to humble me this past semester. I thought it would look something like this: I would keep getting my A's and God would just make me more humble. Wishful thinking but the former has not turned out to be reality thus far. Everything I prided myself in as a student, a good memory, straight A's, a strong work ethic, all of those things have disappeared before my very eyes. What I once boasted in and defined myself as has ceased to exist up to this point half way through the Fall 2009 semester. I now see why God says not to boast in anything but our relationship with Him. Nothing else lasts. Nothing. God heard my prayer and answered it. Even though it wasn't the way I was expecting, praise God!
Talents are God given. He can give and take them away at anytime. I feel like my "ability to get A's" is practically gone. Last night, I went into my organic chemistry exam in complete peace, not because of who I am but because of who my God is. Just because I can't do what I once could to doesn't mean that I cannot continue to praise God. In every moment and every situation, there is an opportunity to bring glory to God. Though by all worldly standards I may have failed last night, I know that my heart and attitude brought glory to God. Praise God for the opportunities to continue to praise Him.
This semester has been nothing like I thought. While my academics haven't been as hot as I was hoping they'd be, that doesn't mean that God has been silent. He's surrounded my with fellowship. He's continued to mold me through circumstances. He's given me friends of whom continually encourage me to keep pursuing God and praising Him in all moments. And most of all, even through my shortcomings, He hasn't given up on me. Thank you God. Thank you so much.
Talents are God given. He can give and take them away at anytime. I feel like my "ability to get A's" is practically gone. Last night, I went into my organic chemistry exam in complete peace, not because of who I am but because of who my God is. Just because I can't do what I once could to doesn't mean that I cannot continue to praise God. In every moment and every situation, there is an opportunity to bring glory to God. Though by all worldly standards I may have failed last night, I know that my heart and attitude brought glory to God. Praise God for the opportunities to continue to praise Him.
This semester has been nothing like I thought. While my academics haven't been as hot as I was hoping they'd be, that doesn't mean that God has been silent. He's surrounded my with fellowship. He's continued to mold me through circumstances. He's given me friends of whom continually encourage me to keep pursuing God and praising Him in all moments. And most of all, even through my shortcomings, He hasn't given up on me. Thank you God. Thank you so much.
2nd Samuel 2:1-7
With the death of Saul, it only seemed natural that David would become king, just as God had promised. However, in verse one, it says that David "in the course of time, inquired of the Lord" whether he should go back to Judah. Conventional wisdom would say that David should have just moved back to Judah and assumed his role as king immediately because "the timing was right". David's response shows that he did not rely on earthly wisdom but rather that of God. God alone is wise. As it says in 1st Corinthians, even God's "foolishness" is wiser than any human wisdom. Even when the course of action seems natural, turn to God and seek His direction alone.
With the death of Saul, it only seemed natural that David would become king, just as God had promised. However, in verse one, it says that David "in the course of time, inquired of the Lord" whether he should go back to Judah. Conventional wisdom would say that David should have just moved back to Judah and assumed his role as king immediately because "the timing was right". David's response shows that he did not rely on earthly wisdom but rather that of God. God alone is wise. As it says in 1st Corinthians, even God's "foolishness" is wiser than any human wisdom. Even when the course of action seems natural, turn to God and seek His direction alone.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Seeking God has honestly become a chore. Keeping our eyes on God is no easy task. I'm going into a rough week of school (aka there's an organic chemistry exam this week) and I feel like there's a weight on my shoulders at the moment. No matter how much I pray, this burden doesn't go away. No matter how many times I try and set my heart straight, it ends up fixated upon a performance based measurement of success. Each day that I read God's word, I do so more out of duty than desire. My attitude is poor and I feel like even when I blog, I'm going through the motions. Here's the awesome part though. Even though my attitude is poor and my heart is else where, God works through that. The presence of the Holy Spirit is not deterred by my shortcomings. God is still God and He is still willing to speak to me even in my present condition. I cannot give up meeting with Him even when I feel like it. When my heart is out of this state that it's in, it won't be because of my efforts or anything that I did. It will be by God's grace alone.
Psalm 18
This is probably one of the longer Pslams that I've read. I find it a bit redundant at some points but the message is very clear. Right from the beginning, David says the following things about God:
1) Rock
2) Fortress
3) Deliverer
4) Shield
5) Horn of salvation
6) Stronghold
Talk about protection! David then talks about how He called upon the Lord for help in times of trouble. In his description of God's response, we get the image of this majestic divine power, one that shook the earth and parted the heavens. No wonder why David felt so secure with God. So often we forget who our God is in times of trouble. The very God that created the universe is the same God that desires a relationship with us and unconditionally loves us. Our God can do anything. Do our prayer reflect that? Do we pray boldly with faith or do we just pray the small prayers in fear that He can't answer the bigger ones? David was so helpless in his situation and He prayed to God with faith and God delivered him. Simply put, without God, we can do nothing.
Psalm 18
This is probably one of the longer Pslams that I've read. I find it a bit redundant at some points but the message is very clear. Right from the beginning, David says the following things about God:
1) Rock
2) Fortress
3) Deliverer
4) Shield
5) Horn of salvation
6) Stronghold
Talk about protection! David then talks about how He called upon the Lord for help in times of trouble. In his description of God's response, we get the image of this majestic divine power, one that shook the earth and parted the heavens. No wonder why David felt so secure with God. So often we forget who our God is in times of trouble. The very God that created the universe is the same God that desires a relationship with us and unconditionally loves us. Our God can do anything. Do our prayer reflect that? Do we pray boldly with faith or do we just pray the small prayers in fear that He can't answer the bigger ones? David was so helpless in his situation and He prayed to God with faith and God delivered him. Simply put, without God, we can do nothing.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
1st Corinthians 1:19 "For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
What this Earth sees as wisdom, God sees as foolishness. Sometimes what God desires flies in the face of conventional wisdom and logical thinking but God is no fool. Later on in the passage, it talks about how God's 'foolishness' is greater than mans wisdom and His 'weakness' is greater than man's strength. Here we are, sitting in our comfortable lives thinking that we know everything and elaborately plan for the future based upon what we think to be 'wise'. Relying on our wisdom will lead to nothing but a life filled with foolishness. Living for God, while seemingly foolish, has so much more in store than superficial 'foolishness'.
It's going to be a busy week this week. I feel like I need to study and do well on all of my exams. But I realize that more than anything, I need God. Instead of digging deep into my organic chemistry book, I need to spend time reading His word, seeking His face, and listening for His voice. When trials come and life gets hectic, it is not time to turn rely on human wisdom but rather to turn to God for His wisdom and guidance. In my current situation, I found myself looking for people to talk to. Fortunately, my AIM stopped working and I felt the need to turn to God instead.
What this Earth sees as wisdom, God sees as foolishness. Sometimes what God desires flies in the face of conventional wisdom and logical thinking but God is no fool. Later on in the passage, it talks about how God's 'foolishness' is greater than mans wisdom and His 'weakness' is greater than man's strength. Here we are, sitting in our comfortable lives thinking that we know everything and elaborately plan for the future based upon what we think to be 'wise'. Relying on our wisdom will lead to nothing but a life filled with foolishness. Living for God, while seemingly foolish, has so much more in store than superficial 'foolishness'.
It's going to be a busy week this week. I feel like I need to study and do well on all of my exams. But I realize that more than anything, I need God. Instead of digging deep into my organic chemistry book, I need to spend time reading His word, seeking His face, and listening for His voice. When trials come and life gets hectic, it is not time to turn rely on human wisdom but rather to turn to God for His wisdom and guidance. In my current situation, I found myself looking for people to talk to. Fortunately, my AIM stopped working and I felt the need to turn to God instead.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
2 Samuel 1
Back in high school, my bible study went over the book of 1st Samuel. It's been years since then but the lessons that I learned in that still hold strongly in my life to this day. I figured that I would start reading 2nd Samuel as it is a natural continuation of 1st Samuel. I must say, I am actually quite confused about a bunch of things that happened in the first half of chapter 1.
In the beginning of 2nd Samuel, David finally becomes the king of Israel. He knew that this day would come but he waited upon the Lord to work in His own timing. David went through many struggles and even had the opportunity to kill Saul with this own hands and take the throne, and yet David patiently waited. It's amazing how much David trusted God. David had the chance to seize what was the throne by his own might and yet he waited for God. God held true to His promise and David's patience paid off. So many times, we see an opportunity before us and say "Wow, I HAVE to take this opportunity because it might now come again!" and we blindly charge forward. Just because the opportunity presents itself doesn't mean that God necessarily wants you to take it. Be patient and seek HIS answer and HIS desires first and foremost.
What confuses me the most is David's reaction to the news of Saul's death at the hands of a man from Saul's camp. David wept. He mourned not only for the death of his dear friend, Saul's son Jonathan, but also for Saul, his enemy. I understand that David was distraught by the death of his friend but why did he mourn for Saul? Saul had wronged him in so many ways. The way that I see this is almost as if the Jews were to mourn the death of Hitler at the end of World War II. I'm no history buff but such a thing probably did not happen. So why then would David mourn for Saul?
I think it ultimately boils down to David's character. As we read farther into 2 Samuel 1, we realize a few things. David acknowledges that Saul was appointed by God to be king. Being a man of faith, that means David accepted the fact and realized that it was part of the Lord's plan. David was trusting in the Lord and knew that Saul had been in place for a reason. From verse 17 on is a lament for Saul and Jonathan. Rather than talk about all the times that Saul tried to kill him, David notes the good in Saul. It would have been easy for David to celebrate in Saul's death but that would not have honored God. As a man after God's heart, David honored God by loving Saul, his enemy, even after all that Saul had done. David desired to follow God's commands and that is evident.
The prayer of my heart is that I can be a more loving person. David loved the very man that almost speared him while he was playing the harp. In no way, shape, or form has anyone ever thrown a spear at me and yet I still find it hard to love people.
Back in high school, my bible study went over the book of 1st Samuel. It's been years since then but the lessons that I learned in that still hold strongly in my life to this day. I figured that I would start reading 2nd Samuel as it is a natural continuation of 1st Samuel. I must say, I am actually quite confused about a bunch of things that happened in the first half of chapter 1.
In the beginning of 2nd Samuel, David finally becomes the king of Israel. He knew that this day would come but he waited upon the Lord to work in His own timing. David went through many struggles and even had the opportunity to kill Saul with this own hands and take the throne, and yet David patiently waited. It's amazing how much David trusted God. David had the chance to seize what was the throne by his own might and yet he waited for God. God held true to His promise and David's patience paid off. So many times, we see an opportunity before us and say "Wow, I HAVE to take this opportunity because it might now come again!" and we blindly charge forward. Just because the opportunity presents itself doesn't mean that God necessarily wants you to take it. Be patient and seek HIS answer and HIS desires first and foremost.
What confuses me the most is David's reaction to the news of Saul's death at the hands of a man from Saul's camp. David wept. He mourned not only for the death of his dear friend, Saul's son Jonathan, but also for Saul, his enemy. I understand that David was distraught by the death of his friend but why did he mourn for Saul? Saul had wronged him in so many ways. The way that I see this is almost as if the Jews were to mourn the death of Hitler at the end of World War II. I'm no history buff but such a thing probably did not happen. So why then would David mourn for Saul?
I think it ultimately boils down to David's character. As we read farther into 2 Samuel 1, we realize a few things. David acknowledges that Saul was appointed by God to be king. Being a man of faith, that means David accepted the fact and realized that it was part of the Lord's plan. David was trusting in the Lord and knew that Saul had been in place for a reason. From verse 17 on is a lament for Saul and Jonathan. Rather than talk about all the times that Saul tried to kill him, David notes the good in Saul. It would have been easy for David to celebrate in Saul's death but that would not have honored God. As a man after God's heart, David honored God by loving Saul, his enemy, even after all that Saul had done. David desired to follow God's commands and that is evident.
The prayer of my heart is that I can be a more loving person. David loved the very man that almost speared him while he was playing the harp. In no way, shape, or form has anyone ever thrown a spear at me and yet I still find it hard to love people.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Psalm 104
Psalm 104
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul.
O LORD my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds his messengers, [a]
flames of fire his servants.
5 He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
8 they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.
10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the air nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
14 He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for man to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
15 wine that gladdens the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine,
and bread that sustains his heart.
16 The trees of the LORD are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the pine trees.
18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the coneys. [b]
19 The moon marks off the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.
20 You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
21 The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
23 Then man goes out to his work,
to his labor until evening.
24 How many are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships go to and fro,
and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
27 These all look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works-
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD.
35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Praise the LORD. [c]
What an awesome passage! This psalm paints a picture of God's majesty and glory. When we see creation, we think of it to be aesthetically pleasing. We marvel at the beauty of the sunsets, at the vast expanses of water. The mountains take our breath away. We sit and gaze upon the stars in their beauty. But this psalm reminds us that all those things come from God. The beauty of creation reflects upon God's mighty hand and design, to be able to create something so beautiful. Our God is an awesome God.
Psalm 104
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul.
O LORD my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds his messengers, [a]
flames of fire his servants.
5 He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
8 they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.
10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the air nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
14 He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for man to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
15 wine that gladdens the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine,
and bread that sustains his heart.
16 The trees of the LORD are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the pine trees.
18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the coneys. [b]
19 The moon marks off the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.
20 You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
21 The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
23 Then man goes out to his work,
to his labor until evening.
24 How many are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships go to and fro,
and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
27 These all look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works-
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD.
35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Praise the LORD. [c]
What an awesome passage! This psalm paints a picture of God's majesty and glory. When we see creation, we think of it to be aesthetically pleasing. We marvel at the beauty of the sunsets, at the vast expanses of water. The mountains take our breath away. We sit and gaze upon the stars in their beauty. But this psalm reminds us that all those things come from God. The beauty of creation reflects upon God's mighty hand and design, to be able to create something so beautiful. Our God is an awesome God.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Had the opportunity to catch up with a lot of friends this past weekend. It was awesome to hear how God has challenged them over the course of this school year. The general consensus is that sophomore year is a lot harder than freshman year. Everyone looks tired and stressed out like no other. I feel like God has been teaching a lot of us the same lesson: To fully rely on Him and trust Him in all things.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The First and the Last
Hillsong - First and the Last
You are the First and the Last
Beginning and the End
The promise of One who’s to come
The future is in Your hands
Calling the light with all the Earth we will sing
You are the Author of love
Our freedom is in Your name
Embracing the cross there for us
Brought us to life again
Calling the love with all we are let us sing
God our Hope and our Salvation
Worthy of all the praise
Be our light everlasting
Great is Your name
Jesus the First and the Last
Show us the way of Your love
Lead us towards the truth
Stir up the fire in us
To live out this life for you
Calling Your name Jesus forever we’ll sing
Every heart every nation will hear the sound
As the light breaks through the darkness and Your name rings loud
Every distant horizon will meet as one
Singing holy is Your name We sing holy is Your name.
You are the First and the Last. You are
You’re the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End
Our salvation You bring freedom God Your grace it knows no end
You’re the name above all names the Lamb that was Slain You are Yeah
The First and the Last. You are the First and the Last
Amen.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
One Sided Relationship
Oddly enough, I feel like I got slapped in the face while leading the prayer meeting today. When it came time to praise God for who He is, I got all of five lines in before I couldn't think of anything else to say. Five lines...about the God that I claim to love. I have come to the realization that I barely know who God is. All my life, I've been living as a Christian and yet I barely know God. Problem much?
Here's what boggles my mind even more. Suppose this girl and I were dating. Let's say I barely know anything about this girl and yet I decide to date her anyway. Now let's assume that she knows everything about me, knowing full well that I claim to love and yet I barely know her. Not only to I barely know her but I know that I barely know her and yet still neglect to spend time to get to know her. But then she decides to stay in the relationship anyway. That sounds pretty one sided to me.
Such is the relationship that I currently have with God. He constantly pursues me and loves me despite my unfaithfulness. Even know He knows that I my faith and commitment would waiver, He continues to allow to remain in this relationship when He's doing all the work and I'm barely doing anything. That's grace right there, getting something that I don't deserve. My hope and prayer is that each day, I learn more about who God is. I think a fuller knowledge of that will transform my life as I know it.
Hillsong - For Who You Are
Standing here, in Your presence
Thinking of the good things You have done
Waiting here, patiently
Just to hear Your still small voice again
Holy, righteous, faithful to the end
Savior, healer, redeemer and friend
I will worship You for who You are
I will worship You for who You are
I will worship You for who You are Jesus
My soul secure, Your promise sure
Your love endures always
My soul secure, Your promise sure
Your love endures always
My soul secure, Your promise sure
Your love endures always
Here's what boggles my mind even more. Suppose this girl and I were dating. Let's say I barely know anything about this girl and yet I decide to date her anyway. Now let's assume that she knows everything about me, knowing full well that I claim to love and yet I barely know her. Not only to I barely know her but I know that I barely know her and yet still neglect to spend time to get to know her. But then she decides to stay in the relationship anyway. That sounds pretty one sided to me.
Such is the relationship that I currently have with God. He constantly pursues me and loves me despite my unfaithfulness. Even know He knows that I my faith and commitment would waiver, He continues to allow to remain in this relationship when He's doing all the work and I'm barely doing anything. That's grace right there, getting something that I don't deserve. My hope and prayer is that each day, I learn more about who God is. I think a fuller knowledge of that will transform my life as I know it.
Hillsong - For Who You Are
Standing here, in Your presence
Thinking of the good things You have done
Waiting here, patiently
Just to hear Your still small voice again
Holy, righteous, faithful to the end
Savior, healer, redeemer and friend
I will worship You for who You are
I will worship You for who You are
I will worship You for who You are Jesus
My soul secure, Your promise sure
Your love endures always
My soul secure, Your promise sure
Your love endures always
My soul secure, Your promise sure
Your love endures always
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Chicago Bulls
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
I'm a huge Chicago Bulls fan. Last year, I placed watching my beloved team play the Celtics in the first round of the NBA Playoffs before my studies. As with most fans, preseason is an exciting time. You get to see the improvements that players made over the offseason. You get to see the rookies show their stuff and justify why the team picked them instead of the other 60 rookies that got drafted. Today was the second game of the preseason for the Bulls and I desperately wanted to watch it. The game was televised on NBA TV. The problem is, Purdue dorms don't get NBA TV. In this day and age, anything can be found on the internet so I spent a good thirty minutes looking for the game on google. I eventually found the game and watched twenty minutes of it. Then the website went down and I had to find a new one. In all, I had to find about four different sites to watch a mere 18 minutes of basketball. Nothing was going to stop me from watching this game.
Quite often, I pray and expect God to speak to me. That's not what Jesus told us to do. In Matthew 7:7-8, He very clearly told us to be active in pursuing God. One thing that I don't do is proactively seek God's will or go up to His door and actually knock. Rather, I stand in front of the door and expect Him to open it for me without me knocking. I'm not called to have a complacent and lazy relationship with the Lord. Following God takes commitment, focus, perseverance, and faith.
What I find interesting and sad is that I am willing to actively seek out other things, like finding a website to watch the Bulls play. In that, I didn't stop until I found what I was looking for. When I have questions for God, I half heartedly look, get discouraged, and often stop. Why is it that my heart cares more about a Bulls game than knowing the will of God? Time to shape up.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
I'm a huge Chicago Bulls fan. Last year, I placed watching my beloved team play the Celtics in the first round of the NBA Playoffs before my studies. As with most fans, preseason is an exciting time. You get to see the improvements that players made over the offseason. You get to see the rookies show their stuff and justify why the team picked them instead of the other 60 rookies that got drafted. Today was the second game of the preseason for the Bulls and I desperately wanted to watch it. The game was televised on NBA TV. The problem is, Purdue dorms don't get NBA TV. In this day and age, anything can be found on the internet so I spent a good thirty minutes looking for the game on google. I eventually found the game and watched twenty minutes of it. Then the website went down and I had to find a new one. In all, I had to find about four different sites to watch a mere 18 minutes of basketball. Nothing was going to stop me from watching this game.
Quite often, I pray and expect God to speak to me. That's not what Jesus told us to do. In Matthew 7:7-8, He very clearly told us to be active in pursuing God. One thing that I don't do is proactively seek God's will or go up to His door and actually knock. Rather, I stand in front of the door and expect Him to open it for me without me knocking. I'm not called to have a complacent and lazy relationship with the Lord. Following God takes commitment, focus, perseverance, and faith.
What I find interesting and sad is that I am willing to actively seek out other things, like finding a website to watch the Bulls play. In that, I didn't stop until I found what I was looking for. When I have questions for God, I half heartedly look, get discouraged, and often stop. Why is it that my heart cares more about a Bulls game than knowing the will of God? Time to shape up.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Musclar Atrophy and Christianity
Kinda brain fried right now so this might not make a lot of sense. I'm sitting here in the library reading about muscular tissue in my anatomy textbook. The book talks a little bit about muscular conditions such as muscular atrophy and hypertrophy in the section regarding muscle fibers. In the case of muscular atrophy, muscles waste away from disuse. It often happens to patients that are bed or cast ridden for an extended period of time. Myofibrils waste away and the size of muscle fibers decreases as a result. I couldn't help but think that our faith is very much the same.
In James 2 (of which I already blogged about), the idea "faith without deeds is dead" comes about. When we don't apply our faith to our lives, our faith is pretty much useless. We we are not constantly walking with the Lord, seeking Him in every situation, and stepping out in our faith, it begins to wither. When we rely on ourselves rather than God in tough situations, our faith is little and no where to be found. Don't let your knowledge that Jesus is Lord waste away. Even demons know that Jesus is Lord. What sets us apart is the faith that we have. Our faith in God, His word, and His promises should lead to a changed lifestyle.
In James 2 (of which I already blogged about), the idea "faith without deeds is dead" comes about. When we don't apply our faith to our lives, our faith is pretty much useless. We we are not constantly walking with the Lord, seeking Him in every situation, and stepping out in our faith, it begins to wither. When we rely on ourselves rather than God in tough situations, our faith is little and no where to be found. Don't let your knowledge that Jesus is Lord waste away. Even demons know that Jesus is Lord. What sets us apart is the faith that we have. Our faith in God, His word, and His promises should lead to a changed lifestyle.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Terrel Owens and Christianity
Matthew 25:14-30
Terrel Owens is possibly the most dynamic wide receiver in the National Football League. He has all of the physical gifts necessary to be the best. Owens is a dynamic athlete with good size, runs crisp routes, and ability to catch in traffic. On paper, this is the type of player you expect to be the cornerstone of your franchise, your star player. You build your team based around a guy like this. You market and advertise with his face on every bit of media that you can possibly stick it on. So if all this is the case, why is he possibly the best receiver rather than the definite "best receiver"? This man has a knack for squandering his talent. He is the best only when he feels like it. He creates drama in the locker room and drama when he's no where near a football. Terrel Owens is a egotistical headcase. All of that talent put to waste.
We are blessed beyond measure. Maybe not all of us are Terrel Owens caliber athletes but God has give each person talents, abilities, and gifts. However, people also have the ability to squander them much like the aforementioned athlete. As in the parable of the talents, a master gave his servants money. Upon his return, two of the servants invested the money and were able to give their master more than they received. The last servant did nothing with the money. He was lazy. He didn't act upon the blessings of his master and to make the most of the opportunities in front of him. In so many ways, I find myself like that last servant. I have so much and yet I do so little with it sometimes.
Last night, a friend of mine talked to me about squandered opportunities this past week. I prayed for change in my life and God gave me the chance to put my faith in action and I failed miserably. The opportunity was there and yet I did nothing. From this, I took away a few things.
The first is that when I pray, I need to prepare for God's answer and actively seek Him. God answered my prayers and I wasn't ready. It's like praying for rain and not bringing an umbrella with me. I was passive and didn't seek God after I prayed. Habbakuk said that he was "on the ramparts waiting" for God's response. Such should be the model after we ask God for things. Our faith should be active and constantly seeking.
The second was a gentle reminder. These talents that God has given me are not of myself but are from God. It is my job to be a good steward and to make the most of them. I need to be a faithful servant. In the parable, the master entrusted more to the servants as he saw that they could handle what he had previously given them. How can God trust me with more in the future if I can't utilize what He has already given me? I need to stop living for myself and within my own desires as that leads to a great deal of misdirection and complacency. I am not called to be the Terrel Owens of spirituality and yet that's where I find myself way too often.
Terrel Owens is possibly the most dynamic wide receiver in the National Football League. He has all of the physical gifts necessary to be the best. Owens is a dynamic athlete with good size, runs crisp routes, and ability to catch in traffic. On paper, this is the type of player you expect to be the cornerstone of your franchise, your star player. You build your team based around a guy like this. You market and advertise with his face on every bit of media that you can possibly stick it on. So if all this is the case, why is he possibly the best receiver rather than the definite "best receiver"? This man has a knack for squandering his talent. He is the best only when he feels like it. He creates drama in the locker room and drama when he's no where near a football. Terrel Owens is a egotistical headcase. All of that talent put to waste.
We are blessed beyond measure. Maybe not all of us are Terrel Owens caliber athletes but God has give each person talents, abilities, and gifts. However, people also have the ability to squander them much like the aforementioned athlete. As in the parable of the talents, a master gave his servants money. Upon his return, two of the servants invested the money and were able to give their master more than they received. The last servant did nothing with the money. He was lazy. He didn't act upon the blessings of his master and to make the most of the opportunities in front of him. In so many ways, I find myself like that last servant. I have so much and yet I do so little with it sometimes.
Last night, a friend of mine talked to me about squandered opportunities this past week. I prayed for change in my life and God gave me the chance to put my faith in action and I failed miserably. The opportunity was there and yet I did nothing. From this, I took away a few things.
The first is that when I pray, I need to prepare for God's answer and actively seek Him. God answered my prayers and I wasn't ready. It's like praying for rain and not bringing an umbrella with me. I was passive and didn't seek God after I prayed. Habbakuk said that he was "on the ramparts waiting" for God's response. Such should be the model after we ask God for things. Our faith should be active and constantly seeking.
The second was a gentle reminder. These talents that God has given me are not of myself but are from God. It is my job to be a good steward and to make the most of them. I need to be a faithful servant. In the parable, the master entrusted more to the servants as he saw that they could handle what he had previously given them. How can God trust me with more in the future if I can't utilize what He has already given me? I need to stop living for myself and within my own desires as that leads to a great deal of misdirection and complacency. I am not called to be the Terrel Owens of spirituality and yet that's where I find myself way too often.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
This is how we know
This is going to be a bit short but it's something that really convicted my heart today. There's always that one person in life that you find hard to love, that one person that seems to get under your skin by merely being around you. I don't mean love as in the boyfriend/girlfriend sense but in the sense that I desire what is best for the person, even above my own needs. Posed with this challenge, I usually do what my heart tells me to do. I ignore the person. The plain honest truth is that I don't make much of an effort to love the people that irritate me.
We talked about this at leaders meeting today, about how as leaders of our Christian fellowship, we especially are to reach out to those who are harder to love and to set an example for everyone else. Now, there's this one guy that's a bit clingy. Clingy people creep me out a bit. And like I said earlier, when a person is hard to love, my initial response is to not love him or her. But I started to think of it in this manner. Jesus Christ died on the cross to save me from my sins. At that point, he knew full well that I would rebel. In my rebellion and disobedience, I am hard to love but God loves me continually, faithfully, and whole heartedly. I am called to do the same, to love as God first loved us.
That type of love is one that sacrifices for others. So if I'm irritated a little bit by this person's clingyness, so what? Suck it up, Chris. If bearing with the clingyness is what will make this guy feel welcome at our fellowship, so be it. It's a small cost for such a great gain, being able to fellowship with another believer in Christ.
1 John 3:16
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
We talked about this at leaders meeting today, about how as leaders of our Christian fellowship, we especially are to reach out to those who are harder to love and to set an example for everyone else. Now, there's this one guy that's a bit clingy. Clingy people creep me out a bit. And like I said earlier, when a person is hard to love, my initial response is to not love him or her. But I started to think of it in this manner. Jesus Christ died on the cross to save me from my sins. At that point, he knew full well that I would rebel. In my rebellion and disobedience, I am hard to love but God loves me continually, faithfully, and whole heartedly. I am called to do the same, to love as God first loved us.
That type of love is one that sacrifices for others. So if I'm irritated a little bit by this person's clingyness, so what? Suck it up, Chris. If bearing with the clingyness is what will make this guy feel welcome at our fellowship, so be it. It's a small cost for such a great gain, being able to fellowship with another believer in Christ.
1 John 3:16
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Phil Wickham - Cannons
Phil Wickham - Cannons
It's falling from the clouds
A strange and lovely sound
I hear it in the thunder and rain
It's ringing in the skies
Like cannons in the night
The music of the universe plays
You are holy great and mighty
The moon and the stars declare who You are
I'm so unworthy, but still You love me
Forever my heart will sing of how great You are
Beautiful and free
Song of Galaxies
It's reaching far beyond the milky way
Lets join in with the sound
C'mon let's sing it loud
As the music of the universe plays
All glory, honor, power is Yours amen
All glory, honor, power is Yours amen
All glory, honor, power is Yours forever amen
I really like this song. Although the song is a few years old, I heard it for the first time the summer. I think it really shows how awesome are God. This song paints a picture of the entire universe, from things as little as rain drops to things as large as galaxies, praising our God. The lyrics say that it will be like cannons in the night. Whenever I'm trying to sleep at night, I can hear the talk of drunks running around outside my dorms. The thought of a cannon going off would be something that everyone on campus could probably hear. God's glory is that unmistakable.
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