Thursday, May 27
Sunday, May 23
A new challenge to express God's goodness
If it weren't so late, I would take a picture of my new journal and post it. It's pink and brown and has Bible verses on every page. I got it as a gift at my surprise going-away party on Friday evening.
With this notebook, because of course each one needs an explicit purpose, I will write some anecdotal evidence each day about something good that God has done. I have never done something like this before; only written down the events of the day and my feelings.
I hope that this will someday be not only interesting reading material but part of my earthly legacy left for my children. I think it's appropriate to keep a hand-written journal because I love things written in handwriting (I have a collection of recipes handwritten by family members and friends) and also I don't want to make public everything.
Ironically enough this journal was printed in Korea.
"He has done great things and we are glad." Psalm 126:3
With this notebook, because of course each one needs an explicit purpose, I will write some anecdotal evidence each day about something good that God has done. I have never done something like this before; only written down the events of the day and my feelings.
I hope that this will someday be not only interesting reading material but part of my earthly legacy left for my children. I think it's appropriate to keep a hand-written journal because I love things written in handwriting (I have a collection of recipes handwritten by family members and friends) and also I don't want to make public everything.
Ironically enough this journal was printed in Korea.
"He has done great things and we are glad." Psalm 126:3
Monday, May 17
Thursday, May 13
Seventy times seven.
In the morning when I eat a hurried breakfast I try to also nibble on God's Word. I will admit that I've been lax in this lately; I really have no reason for it besides the fact that I am putting other things before study and prayer. I really ought not to do that considering not only the fact that I have some huge changes on the horizon, but just that I need to spend time with the Lord!
Thankfully God is gracious and speaks to me even in the hurried times. Matthew 18 was on my heart the other morning, and for good reason. Here are the verses 21-35, quoted in the NASB:
21Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
24"When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25"But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.
26"So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.'
27"And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.
28"But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.'
29"So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.'
30"But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.
31"So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.
32"Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
33'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?'
34"And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.
35"My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
Jesus was truly an incredible teacher. Anyone would want a teacher who relates the subject matter to real-life issues in order to promote understanding (how's that for fluent "education-ese"? haha). Here, he used an example of money. We all can relate to money. And if not money, then having possessions of some sort.
When I first read this, I didn't think it was fair that the slave got off so easily.. his debt was forgiven when he really didn't deserve it. But then I realized that the king didn't forgive the debt of his slave for no reason.. God forgives our debts so then we can, out of gratefulness and compassion, forgive our debtors. Is that not what the Lord's Prayer states, regardless of whether you use "debt" or "transgression"? (And actually both words mean something different in the Greek.. but all in all it's an offense against you.) Jesus became our sin on the cross and as sinful beings we surely didn't get what was coming to us.
I have on a sticky note in my Bible, "We are forgiven - let's act like it!" So much easier said than done.
I will tell you that I do not have compassion all the time for my debtors.. every morning on my way to work I pray to have compassion for those who offend me.. and in doing so I find that of course the Lord is faithful to bestow that upon me!
I am then able to be more loving, accepting and helpful toward people, whether it be my immediate family, my friends or even my husband.
I encourage you to have compassion on your brother (or mom, or friend). Instead of being angry, pray. Instead of being jealous, pray. Instead of harboring bitterness and resentment, pray. As Beth Moore has said, and she's only quoting the Bible in a way, "He did not set us up for defeat!"
Thankfully God is gracious and speaks to me even in the hurried times. Matthew 18 was on my heart the other morning, and for good reason. Here are the verses 21-35, quoted in the NASB:
21Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
24"When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25"But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.
26"So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.'
27"And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.
28"But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.'
29"So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.'
30"But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.
31"So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.
32"Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
33'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?'
34"And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.
35"My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
Jesus was truly an incredible teacher. Anyone would want a teacher who relates the subject matter to real-life issues in order to promote understanding (how's that for fluent "education-ese"? haha). Here, he used an example of money. We all can relate to money. And if not money, then having possessions of some sort.
When I first read this, I didn't think it was fair that the slave got off so easily.. his debt was forgiven when he really didn't deserve it. But then I realized that the king didn't forgive the debt of his slave for no reason.. God forgives our debts so then we can, out of gratefulness and compassion, forgive our debtors. Is that not what the Lord's Prayer states, regardless of whether you use "debt" or "transgression"? (And actually both words mean something different in the Greek.. but all in all it's an offense against you.) Jesus became our sin on the cross and as sinful beings we surely didn't get what was coming to us.
I have on a sticky note in my Bible, "We are forgiven - let's act like it!" So much easier said than done.
I will tell you that I do not have compassion all the time for my debtors.. every morning on my way to work I pray to have compassion for those who offend me.. and in doing so I find that of course the Lord is faithful to bestow that upon me!
I am then able to be more loving, accepting and helpful toward people, whether it be my immediate family, my friends or even my husband.
I encourage you to have compassion on your brother (or mom, or friend). Instead of being angry, pray. Instead of being jealous, pray. Instead of harboring bitterness and resentment, pray. As Beth Moore has said, and she's only quoting the Bible in a way, "He did not set us up for defeat!"
Sunday, May 9
I have five things to say.
1. God is who He says He is.
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ.
5. God's Word is alive and active in me.
I'M BELIEVING GOD!!!!
I can't even begin to express how important these statements of faith from Beth Moore's Believing God study have been in my walk these past few months. Wow. God is so good!
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ.
5. God's Word is alive and active in me.
I'M BELIEVING GOD!!!!
I can't even begin to express how important these statements of faith from Beth Moore's Believing God study have been in my walk these past few months. Wow. God is so good!
Friday, April 23
He was human in every way.
These past few weeks or so have taken a toll on my emotions. How can a person feel so many different emotions.. at the same time? Frustration, happiness, excitement, sadness, grief.. I feel like people are starting to pull away because I'm leaving. That hurts. I never did that to Aaron before he left for training, or whenever he would leave after being home for a weekend or for Christmas. I guess I see it as I'm sacrificing my emotional comfort to stay close with people up until the end and others are just not following through. I think it will get worse since we're going to South Korea instead of Texas.. I guess that's what distance does.
The consolation I have, besides those who are staying close with me and making a mutual effort to do so, is that Jesus can sympathize with us because He has experienced every emotion because in addition to being fully God, He was fully man. I cannot even begin to imagine what He experienced on the cross. Feelings of abandonment from His own Father; rejection and blatant disregard from the people who at one time were following Him, being healed, believing, now cheering "Crucify Him!"; happiness knowing that what He was doing would save the entire world, past present and future... He's felt every emotion times a thousand. That's how I know that I can rely on Him for the peace that passes all understanding.
What did Jesus do in His times of distress? He prayed. The Gospels account for so many times where He went into the secret to pray. I love David Crowder's song "All Around Me"...
My hands are searching for You
My arms are outstretched towards You
I feel You on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for You
This fire rising through my being
Burning, I'm not used to seeing You
I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing
My hands float up above me
And You whisper You love me
And I begin to fade
Into our secret place
The music makes me sway
The angels singing say we are alone with You
I am alone and they are too with You
And so I cry
The light is white
And I see You
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
Take my hand, I give it to you
Now you own me, all I am
You said You would never leave me
I believe You, I believe
I am so thankful for what Jesus has done.. He's healed me through and through, from my depression, loneliness, hurt.. He's given me an amazing husband, "surrogate" mothers and aunts and sisters in Christ, a wonderful opportunity to share my life with one hundred students each day... and I am making the most of it.
I thank Him in advance for the healing that will occur in my soul.. I know that He will restore me! I claim it! I know that everything I am going through is only preparation for better things to come.. His timing is perfect, His name is above all names.
I tell you, when I first started writing this blog, I was teetering on the edge of depressive thoughts.. but once I proclaim all that He's done for me, how can I feel like that? It's completely okay to be human and feel sad, but we have to find our comfort in the Comforter.
I might have mentioned this before, but the word for "healing" in Hebrew can mean in some instances "to mend, to stitch..". That is such a beautiful picture.. Jesus is lovingly threading the needle of the thread of healing to mend my heart. And it will be stronger than before. My tattoo says, "Jehovah Raphe - The God Who Heals.."
"I'm savoring this heart that's healing..."
The consolation I have, besides those who are staying close with me and making a mutual effort to do so, is that Jesus can sympathize with us because He has experienced every emotion because in addition to being fully God, He was fully man. I cannot even begin to imagine what He experienced on the cross. Feelings of abandonment from His own Father; rejection and blatant disregard from the people who at one time were following Him, being healed, believing, now cheering "Crucify Him!"; happiness knowing that what He was doing would save the entire world, past present and future... He's felt every emotion times a thousand. That's how I know that I can rely on Him for the peace that passes all understanding.
What did Jesus do in His times of distress? He prayed. The Gospels account for so many times where He went into the secret to pray. I love David Crowder's song "All Around Me"...
My hands are searching for You
My arms are outstretched towards You
I feel You on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for You
This fire rising through my being
Burning, I'm not used to seeing You
I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing
My hands float up above me
And You whisper You love me
And I begin to fade
Into our secret place
The music makes me sway
The angels singing say we are alone with You
I am alone and they are too with You
And so I cry
The light is white
And I see You
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
Take my hand, I give it to you
Now you own me, all I am
You said You would never leave me
I believe You, I believe
I am so thankful for what Jesus has done.. He's healed me through and through, from my depression, loneliness, hurt.. He's given me an amazing husband, "surrogate" mothers and aunts and sisters in Christ, a wonderful opportunity to share my life with one hundred students each day... and I am making the most of it.
I thank Him in advance for the healing that will occur in my soul.. I know that He will restore me! I claim it! I know that everything I am going through is only preparation for better things to come.. His timing is perfect, His name is above all names.
I tell you, when I first started writing this blog, I was teetering on the edge of depressive thoughts.. but once I proclaim all that He's done for me, how can I feel like that? It's completely okay to be human and feel sad, but we have to find our comfort in the Comforter.
I might have mentioned this before, but the word for "healing" in Hebrew can mean in some instances "to mend, to stitch..". That is such a beautiful picture.. Jesus is lovingly threading the needle of the thread of healing to mend my heart. And it will be stronger than before. My tattoo says, "Jehovah Raphe - The God Who Heals.."
"I'm savoring this heart that's healing..."
Tuesday, April 20
Psalm 119:97-104
In the NIV...
97 Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
100 I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.
102 I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.
This is how I've prayed to feel about the Word of the Lord.. and I do feel this way. And it's really more than a feeling. It's an unmistakable realization that the Truth brought forth from this book is the only Truth, past, present and future.
97 Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
100 I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.
102 I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.
This is how I've prayed to feel about the Word of the Lord.. and I do feel this way. And it's really more than a feeling. It's an unmistakable realization that the Truth brought forth from this book is the only Truth, past, present and future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)