John 12:27-28: "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose is have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your Name."
--Jesus
It was the plan that Jesus would suffer greatly. Why do I complain when it's part of God's plan for me to go though trials? He is no less Good in the midst of it all;in fact, He is shows His Goodness by allowing / causing these slight sufferings in my life. He is for me, He never does anything that is not the to my benefit! So what should my response be when He brings trials my way? Sincere gratitude for His desire to grow me. Is that not something I ask Him for? Is that not something I desire? To be growing ever-closer to Him? For character that has His handwriting on it? For patience? For endurance? For faithfulness toward Him? He desires these things for me in ways and capacities I don't even know and am not even capable of desiring for myself.
Should I doubt His heart? No, not at all. He wants the very best for me and from me. Should I doubt His judgement, then? No, He's the One who sees all things. Should I doubt His plan? Of course not. He is the Great Orchestrator. In His symphony, may I play my part well.
But that takes practice, as well as a very clear understanding of what part is mine to play. Who am I to worry or groan when He gives me opportunity to work on improving my part? There will be a day when all the saints will play their parts perfectly. A day when Jesus returns and all anyone will be able to do is fall at His feet and proclaim that HE is Lord. Every day until then is preparation. Every day until then is a chance to be that much more ready. Whether that's basking in His glorious blessings and provisions, or choosing to press on through difficulties. So tune your instruments, everyone!
Does He--the Sovereign One, the Mighty Redeemer, our Holy Father, Glorious God--not deserve everything we have to give? And we are even incapable of giving Him what He deserves completely, simply by His definition, and ours.
So tune your instruments, learn your part, and play like you've never played before - for His Glory and Fame. Let us be a beautiful symphony for all the world to hear, that they may know Him who orchestrates it all. <3
Monday, November 12, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Some thoughts from a pretty wise Scottish guy...
So I've been studying in Luke for a while now, a little at a time. I've been using a commentary-type book by William Barclay. [If you've seen me hashtag "WBarclay", this is why.] Yesterday had some really good stuff, so I thought I'd share!
"The End of the World's Values"
Luke 6:20-26
"To talk like that is to put an end to the world's values altogether."
Jesus takes all of the norms and accepted standards, and then flips them upside-down... Jesus says 'happy', the world says 'wretched'; the world says 'happy', Jesus says 'wretched'.
The key is in vs 24: "Woe to you who are rich because you have all the comfort you are going to get." Ol' Will says that in that verse, the word Jesus used for 'have' means literally having received payment in full of an account.
"What Jesus is saying is this, 'If you set your heart and bend your whole energies to obtain the things which the world values, you will get them--but that is all you will ever get.'...But if on the other hand you set your heart and bend all your energies to be utterly loyal to God and true to Christ, you will run into all kinds of trouble; you may by the world's standards look unhappy, but much of your payment is still to come; and it will be joy eternal."
Read 2 Corinthians 4:17. It will probably sound familiar!
[Not in any way should eternal glories and rewards for ourselves be our motivation for following Christ, but what I really feel like is being said here is that 'This may seem undoable, impossible, and like it will last forever BUT there is hope for something much bigger, better, and greater than what you're dealing with now!' I can remember a couple different times in my life when what I was going through seemed far too big to conquer, far too scary to face, and far too impossible to overcome. And the very clear and precise words my heart heard from what I knew had to be the very lips of the Father were these:
And with those words, Peace flooded my heart, and Hope--instead of dread, fear, or worry--for the future came in quantities that were more than sufficient. Those are some of the most clear, most precious words that I've had the joy of hearing and believing.]
Back to Barclay...
"If you take the world's way, you must abandon the values of Christ. If you take Christ's way, you must abandon the values of the world....The challenge of the beatitudes is-will you be happy in the world's way, or in Christ's way?"
We all have that same choice, you know. Before deciding (or even if you already have), take a minute to reflect on which cost is probably greater, but in the end (and in the present, too!) will be so much more than worth it.
Love you all! Thanks for reading :)
"The End of the World's Values"
Luke 6:20-26
"To talk like that is to put an end to the world's values altogether."
Jesus takes all of the norms and accepted standards, and then flips them upside-down... Jesus says 'happy', the world says 'wretched'; the world says 'happy', Jesus says 'wretched'.
The key is in vs 24: "Woe to you who are rich because you have all the comfort you are going to get." Ol' Will says that in that verse, the word Jesus used for 'have' means literally having received payment in full of an account.
"What Jesus is saying is this, 'If you set your heart and bend your whole energies to obtain the things which the world values, you will get them--but that is all you will ever get.'...But if on the other hand you set your heart and bend all your energies to be utterly loyal to God and true to Christ, you will run into all kinds of trouble; you may by the world's standards look unhappy, but much of your payment is still to come; and it will be joy eternal."
Read 2 Corinthians 4:17. It will probably sound familiar!
[Not in any way should eternal glories and rewards for ourselves be our motivation for following Christ, but what I really feel like is being said here is that 'This may seem undoable, impossible, and like it will last forever BUT there is hope for something much bigger, better, and greater than what you're dealing with now!' I can remember a couple different times in my life when what I was going through seemed far too big to conquer, far too scary to face, and far too impossible to overcome. And the very clear and precise words my heart heard from what I knew had to be the very lips of the Father were these:
"Just hold on a little bit longer."
Back to Barclay...
"If you take the world's way, you must abandon the values of Christ. If you take Christ's way, you must abandon the values of the world....The challenge of the beatitudes is-will you be happy in the world's way, or in Christ's way?"
We all have that same choice, you know. Before deciding (or even if you already have), take a minute to reflect on which cost is probably greater, but in the end (and in the present, too!) will be so much more than worth it.
Love you all! Thanks for reading :)
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Oh, Blog, It's Been Far Too Long...
Hello all! Wow! I didn't realize how long it's been since I've graced you with my words or wisdom! (TOTALLY kidding.) It would take like...307 posts to tell you everything God has shown me since October, so I'm not sure that going through everything step-by-step, post-by-post since then is such a great idea. (I really feel like you'd all give up on me after like...3 of them or something, and I sure wouldn't blame you!)
Even now, God is teaching me bunches, so I sit here in my little chair in my living room, struggling with what to share! One thing that's been very much in the forefront of my mind/life/thoughts/recent sermons/things I've been reading/my experience with other people--Sheesh, when God wants you to learn something He won't hesitate to shell it out full-force. Anyway--is simply the fact that God must be what fills you.
How many times do we seek things that we think are going to sustain us or make us happy when in all kinds of reality, they can't. They just can't.
I don't claim to know a lot, but this is something I do know (very very very very well, I might add):
We were created to have a void in us that ONLY He is able to fill. (You're probably nodding your head in agreement, saying to yourself 'well, yeah. duh', and reading that statement passively. Most of the time, that's probably how I would operate, too. So do me a favor--I'm going to say it again, and this time, PLEASE let the weight of that statement sink in. Ready? Are you sure? I really don't want anyone to miss this!! Okay, here goes...)
We were created to have a void in us that ONLY He is able to fill.
Did you catch it that time? I'll say it again if I need to. This can't be missed.
We were created to have a void in us that ONLY He is able to fill.
Starting to get the picture? Okay, good. I pray ever so sincerely that you'd apply this truth in your life--no matter what that may mean! If that means changing habit or priorities or allowing Christ to captivate you all over again or even for the first time, then so be it!*
*(If you would like to discuss what that means for you or you need some encouragement, then I HIGHLY encourage you to seek someone out to share with!)
For me, allowing God to be what fills me means not allowing myself to be filled by other things. Whether this be school, work, family, any kind of relationship with any kind of other person...These things are good things that He gives us (see 2 Samuel 7:28, Matthew 7:11, Psalm 84:11, 34:10, 104:28, 107:9....there are a lot.), and I believe that He really wants to give us good things! But these good things can't take the place of the ultimate Good thing--God Himself. Notice the difference between good thing and Good thing.
So question...if God wants to give us what's good, and the best of what's good is what's Good, then what does He desire to give us most?? He wants to give us Himself! We were created to have a "God-shaped hole in our hearts" (like my mom used to say, God bless her! But really, what an incredible example to follow! Love you!), and as humans, our natural, sinful, and first instinct is to reach for whatever we can find to fill it.---EVEN as believers! But see, brothers and sisters, those things don't, can't, and won't satisfy us. The hole, or void in us really is God-shaped. It's like a puzzle. There's only one thing that's supposed to fit there! And in this particular case, we can even try to put multiple pieces in there at the same time, and it will still never fit or be enough! All we end up doing is making a complete MESS of everything. Romans 7:18-24 captures this thought well. I can speak to that one from my own personal experience. (If you want to know more, please ask! I would be honored if God would use my experience to help someone else!!)
I can tell you that I've unintentionally tried filling that void with things and people besides God. I can also tell you that it didn't work out so well.
So here's my point, I guess...
We were created to have a void in us that ONLY He is able to fill.
It is my hope and prayer, dear friends, that we can lock arms and walk toward Him together! We may be encouraging and affirming each other along the way, but let's make sure that we don't get distracted by one another. Our goal should remain the same--to be continuously and fervently seeking our Savior, and finding every and all of our satisfaction, fulfillment, joy, peace, love, hope, beauty in Him and Him alone.
Who's up for it?!!
Even now, God is teaching me bunches, so I sit here in my little chair in my living room, struggling with what to share! One thing that's been very much in the forefront of my mind/life/thoughts/recent sermons/things I've been reading/my experience with other people--Sheesh, when God wants you to learn something He won't hesitate to shell it out full-force. Anyway--is simply the fact that God must be what fills you.
How many times do we seek things that we think are going to sustain us or make us happy when in all kinds of reality, they can't. They just can't.
I don't claim to know a lot, but this is something I do know (very very very very well, I might add):
We were created to have a void in us that ONLY He is able to fill. (You're probably nodding your head in agreement, saying to yourself 'well, yeah. duh', and reading that statement passively. Most of the time, that's probably how I would operate, too. So do me a favor--I'm going to say it again, and this time, PLEASE let the weight of that statement sink in. Ready? Are you sure? I really don't want anyone to miss this!! Okay, here goes...)
We were created to have a void in us that ONLY He is able to fill.
Did you catch it that time? I'll say it again if I need to. This can't be missed.
We were created to have a void in us that ONLY He is able to fill.
Starting to get the picture? Okay, good. I pray ever so sincerely that you'd apply this truth in your life--no matter what that may mean! If that means changing habit or priorities or allowing Christ to captivate you all over again or even for the first time, then so be it!*
*(If you would like to discuss what that means for you or you need some encouragement, then I HIGHLY encourage you to seek someone out to share with!)
For me, allowing God to be what fills me means not allowing myself to be filled by other things. Whether this be school, work, family, any kind of relationship with any kind of other person...These things are good things that He gives us (see 2 Samuel 7:28, Matthew 7:11, Psalm 84:11, 34:10, 104:28, 107:9....there are a lot.), and I believe that He really wants to give us good things! But these good things can't take the place of the ultimate Good thing--God Himself. Notice the difference between good thing and Good thing.
So question...if God wants to give us what's good, and the best of what's good is what's Good, then what does He desire to give us most?? He wants to give us Himself! We were created to have a "God-shaped hole in our hearts" (like my mom used to say, God bless her! But really, what an incredible example to follow! Love you!), and as humans, our natural, sinful, and first instinct is to reach for whatever we can find to fill it.---EVEN as believers! But see, brothers and sisters, those things don't, can't, and won't satisfy us. The hole, or void in us really is God-shaped. It's like a puzzle. There's only one thing that's supposed to fit there! And in this particular case, we can even try to put multiple pieces in there at the same time, and it will still never fit or be enough! All we end up doing is making a complete MESS of everything. Romans 7:18-24 captures this thought well. I can speak to that one from my own personal experience. (If you want to know more, please ask! I would be honored if God would use my experience to help someone else!!)
I can tell you that I've unintentionally tried filling that void with things and people besides God. I can also tell you that it didn't work out so well.
So here's my point, I guess...
We were created to have a void in us that ONLY He is able to fill.
It is my hope and prayer, dear friends, that we can lock arms and walk toward Him together! We may be encouraging and affirming each other along the way, but let's make sure that we don't get distracted by one another. Our goal should remain the same--to be continuously and fervently seeking our Savior, and finding every and all of our satisfaction, fulfillment, joy, peace, love, hope, beauty in Him and Him alone.
Who's up for it?!!
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