My husband and I just finished watching the vice-presidential political debate. We watched the presidential one a couple weeks ago. Watching these debates, and all the other political discussion and ads on TV lately, has reminded me of something: I am NOT voting for either candidate because I agree with them on everything. Neither of the candidates has a plan with which I completely agree.
That's not a bad thing. It's also to be expected. As my dad says, "You're not voting for a person so much as you are for a platform." The Republican party is one I can stand with on MOST things. And I feel that after four years of disappointment in what President Obama has done, it's time for the other party to have a go, again, at running the country.
Paul Ryan proved why I like his platform in the debate this evening. The moderator asked the VP candidates, "You are both Catholic--something that hasn't happened in a presidential race in a long time. Based on your religion, what are your opinions on abortion?"
The Catholic church's stance on abortion is that it is wrong (because they believe that life begins at conception), with, as Ryan said, the exceptions of rape, incest, and threat to the mother's life. That is also the stance of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and although I don't agree with it entirely, I can accept it. Ryan pointed this out, and stated firmly once again his belief that life begins at conception. He did not back down on this at all.
When posed with the same question, Biden also noted the Catholic church's stance, but that he believed every woman should have the opportunity to choose whether or not she wants to have an abortion. It's not the government's right, he said, to deny women that opportunity--that right--to do what they want with their own bodies.
(Yes, I am paraphrasing what the men said.)
What I appreciated about Ryan was that he did not back down from saying that abortion is wrong, period. He didn't contradict what his faith believes about the life of unborn children. And he did say that yes, in a case of clear right and wrong, it IS the government's right to dictate what people can and can't do. It's wrong to kill an adult person in cold blood except in cases of self-defense. The government dictates that and has laws that uphold that. Abortion should be no different.
So I am voting for Romney and Ryan because they uphold what I believe is right. I think their plans regarding foreign policy, the war(s) on terrorism, nuclear weapons, and taxes in the US will do a lot of good and are the wisest decisions that the government can make right now. I have confidence in their character, as much as I can considering they're politicians, and more importantly, I have confidence that God is in control, period, no matter who is in the White House.
That, finally, is what it all comes down to for me. God is in charge. Not the President of the United States, technically the most powerful person in the world. Not the people of the United States who vote that President into office. Not terrorists who murder those people of the United States.
God is in control. I have full confidence in that. No matter what happens politically, in relation to other countries, or to the economy, the fact that God's in charge will not ever change. I know he will always take care of me. I know that nothing that happens in the world can affect my eternal salvation. And I know that God will always give me opportunities to stand up for my faith in him.
God himself does not need defending. What we can do, and should do, as Christians is to speak up for what is right and denounce what is wrong. We need to make clear what is of God and his Word and what is not. That's what matters eternally--not the person who will be in the White House for the next four years.
Rely on God, my friends...not politicians.
P.S. I'm glad to be writing again. I've missed it, and I hope to write a little more often starting now. Thanks to those of you who are still sticking with me! You are a blessing.
Showing posts with label God's power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's power. Show all posts
Friday, October 12, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Strength Renewed
It's getting toward the end of the summer. Many students and families are starting a new school year. Joshua and I have less than two weeks until school begins again for us.
I'm ready for a new schedule, a change of pace, a different routine. This summer has been wonderful, don't get me wrong--but I'm ready for some changes.
At the same time, I'm a little apprehensive. With the new school year will come new challenges: juggling being a wife and homemaker with being a full-time student and working part-time and trying to spend some time with friends, too. It's a bit overwhelming! (If you're feeling like you have a lot on your plate--you are not alone!)
A verse from Isaiah came to mind this morning. God said to Isaiah,
In the previous chapter of Isaiah, God spoke more comforting words:
I won't get through this coming school year on my own power. It will be with the strength of God, by his grace and his will, that I will live each day to his glory. I won't do that perfectly... but I can trust that God has forgiven me. And he chose me to be his servant knowing that I'm imperfect, so I know he can and will use me for his will despite my imperfections.
I can't wait to see where his strength will take me this year... to what new heights I'll soar. I wonder...where will God take you?
Linking up with these lovely ladies:
Growing Home; Thankful Homemaker; Time-Warp Wife; Cornerstone Confessions; Lessons from Ivy
I'm ready for a new schedule, a change of pace, a different routine. This summer has been wonderful, don't get me wrong--but I'm ready for some changes.
At the same time, I'm a little apprehensive. With the new school year will come new challenges: juggling being a wife and homemaker with being a full-time student and working part-time and trying to spend some time with friends, too. It's a bit overwhelming! (If you're feeling like you have a lot on your plate--you are not alone!)
A verse from Isaiah came to mind this morning. God said to Isaiah,
"I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:9b-10God has chosen me to serve him. He is always with me; he gives me strength and help. I have nothing to fear or worry about. And neither do you, no matter what your life looks like right now!
In the previous chapter of Isaiah, God spoke more comforting words:
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." -Isaiah 41:28-31Our strength does not come from ourselves. Even youth (like me!) grow tired and weary. But God never does. Our God is everlasting--Creator of all that exists. It is when we put our hope in him, not in our own "strength," that we become strong. It is God who lifts us up.
I won't get through this coming school year on my own power. It will be with the strength of God, by his grace and his will, that I will live each day to his glory. I won't do that perfectly... but I can trust that God has forgiven me. And he chose me to be his servant knowing that I'm imperfect, so I know he can and will use me for his will despite my imperfections.
I can't wait to see where his strength will take me this year... to what new heights I'll soar. I wonder...where will God take you?
Linking up with these lovely ladies:
Growing Home; Thankful Homemaker; Time-Warp Wife; Cornerstone Confessions; Lessons from Ivy
Friday, July 27, 2012
God's Love: Beyond Imagination
From Lisa-Jo Baker:1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
So that's what Five-Minute Friday is. :)
Today's prompt: Beyond.
My heart stretches beyond my body, beyond my house, beyond the city and state I live in.
Because I know God's love stretches beyond anything that seeks to restrict it.
I want my love to go as far as his does.
Well, I'm not God, so that probably won't work. But that's okay. I might not be able to encompass the entire world with my love, like God does, but that doesn't mean I have to keep it all inside, either.
I can pray. Prayer is something that goes beyond distance, culture, race, tradition. It goes beyond the confines of land, crosses oceans, climbs mountains.
And it does that because God's Holy Spirit goes beyond all those things, too. By the power of the Holy Spirit living in me, I can pray for those whom I will never meet. My love can go great distances through my prayers... because then, my love will be God's love going out to those for whom I pray. When he hears my prayers--and he will, he always does--he will send his Spirit to be with those people. Most of whom I don't even know, and probably never will.
And then my love will be instead God's love. Which is the best kind of all.
And instead of my imperfect, sinful, often selfish and misguided human love,
it will be God's all-perfect love
going beyond imagination
beyond human boundaries
beyond what I in my prayers can even ask for.
Linking up today...
Your Thriving Family; Consider the Lilies; finding joy
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
God Calls the Unlikeliest of Servants
The book of Judges is one of the most exciting books of the Bible, in my opinion. It's full of battles, bravery, and unlikely heroes. And more importantly, it contains stories about God's righteous judgment, His mercy, and forgiveness.
Many chapters in the book begin with the phrase, "Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord..." Over and over God's people turned away from Him and worshiped the false gods of the people in whose land they were living. Over and over God gave the people over to their enemies because they had abandoned Him. Again and again the people pleaded with God to rescue them, so He sent people to care for them, rescue them from their enemies, and lead them into victorious battles.
Only when God was in charge of the Israelites did they win those battles. And God almost always chose the unlikeliest of people to lead Israel. One of those people was Gideon. He, his family and their people were in a desperate situation. The Midianites had taken over their land, destroyed all their crops and livestock, and forced Israel to flee to caves and hideouts in the mountains for refuge. Israel was so afraid of Midian that when Gideon, the youngest of his father's sons, was given the job of threshing wheat, he had to do it in a winepress in order to not be seen by the Midianites (Judges 6:1-11).
It was this man, who had lost almost everything and living in constant fear, who God called to lead His people.
Gideon was reluctant. He protested that he was too young and weak. He asked where God had been, why He had abandoned His people to Midian (Judges 6:13-15).
God was patient. He reassured Gideon. He gave him instructions, and God also gave Gideon proof and signs that God would do what He had promised. He would save Israel.
And he did. Gideon gathered thirty-two thousand men from the tribes of Israel. In order to make clear that God would save them, not Gideon, God instructed Gideon to pare down the army from the thirty-two thousand, to twenty-two thousand, to three hundred men. Those three hundred were the men God used to rescue Israel from the Midianites.
(The battle story is an exciting one. To read the whole thing, go to Judges chapter seven!)
Gideon and the Israelites are not unlike many believers in God today. We often ignore His laws, and then question God as to why He has abandoned us--when it is not He who has left us, but we who have left Him. Then, when he calls us to serve him, we protest that we are unable, that we need more proof from God that this is really what he wants us to do.
This is exactly what Israel did, and it is exactly what I see myself doing.
I don't always obey God. Then, when I have troubles, I wonder why He's not getting me out of them. It's not that He's turned away from me. It's I who have turned away from Him!
He is gracious, and He still calls me his child. He still has work for me to do. But I question whether or not I can do it.
I'm just a young woman. I don't have much experience in anything. I don't have money to travel anywhere to share the Gospel. I'm not that good of a writer. I fail all the time as a wife.
I protest and find excuses why I'm not qualified to serve God.
Why do I think it's all about me?
God doesn't need me. He has chosen me to serve Him, and to help fulfill His purposes.
He doesn't rely on MY strength to fulfill His will. He gives me HIS strength!
No, Gideon wasn't qualified.
I'm not either.
But that doesn't matter to God. We don't get in His way.
He gives us jobs to do, and then He gives us the means to do them.
All He does is ask that we are obedient. That we listen to Him, and follow His calling.
And we can have faith that He will do what He has promised.
God will take care of us. He will provide for us. It will not always be in the way we imagine. But it will be in the way that God knows is best, and that will bring Him glory.
Have you ever heard this phrase:
"God doesn't call the equipped. He equips those He calls."
That was true for Gideon.
It is true for me.
AND it is true for you.
God has a plan for you. You are someone He has chosen to help carry out His purposes. Whatever He calls you to do, He will enable you to do it.
He is big, almighty, eternal, and all-powerful. We can trust that He will keep His promises...just like he did for Gideon.
Linking with:
Many chapters in the book begin with the phrase, "Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord..." Over and over God's people turned away from Him and worshiped the false gods of the people in whose land they were living. Over and over God gave the people over to their enemies because they had abandoned Him. Again and again the people pleaded with God to rescue them, so He sent people to care for them, rescue them from their enemies, and lead them into victorious battles.
Only when God was in charge of the Israelites did they win those battles. And God almost always chose the unlikeliest of people to lead Israel. One of those people was Gideon. He, his family and their people were in a desperate situation. The Midianites had taken over their land, destroyed all their crops and livestock, and forced Israel to flee to caves and hideouts in the mountains for refuge. Israel was so afraid of Midian that when Gideon, the youngest of his father's sons, was given the job of threshing wheat, he had to do it in a winepress in order to not be seen by the Midianites (Judges 6:1-11).
It was this man, who had lost almost everything and living in constant fear, who God called to lead His people.
Gideon was reluctant. He protested that he was too young and weak. He asked where God had been, why He had abandoned His people to Midian (Judges 6:13-15).
God was patient. He reassured Gideon. He gave him instructions, and God also gave Gideon proof and signs that God would do what He had promised. He would save Israel.
And he did. Gideon gathered thirty-two thousand men from the tribes of Israel. In order to make clear that God would save them, not Gideon, God instructed Gideon to pare down the army from the thirty-two thousand, to twenty-two thousand, to three hundred men. Those three hundred were the men God used to rescue Israel from the Midianites.
(The battle story is an exciting one. To read the whole thing, go to Judges chapter seven!)
Gideon and the Israelites are not unlike many believers in God today. We often ignore His laws, and then question God as to why He has abandoned us--when it is not He who has left us, but we who have left Him. Then, when he calls us to serve him, we protest that we are unable, that we need more proof from God that this is really what he wants us to do.
This is exactly what Israel did, and it is exactly what I see myself doing.
I don't always obey God. Then, when I have troubles, I wonder why He's not getting me out of them. It's not that He's turned away from me. It's I who have turned away from Him!
He is gracious, and He still calls me his child. He still has work for me to do. But I question whether or not I can do it.
I'm just a young woman. I don't have much experience in anything. I don't have money to travel anywhere to share the Gospel. I'm not that good of a writer. I fail all the time as a wife.
I protest and find excuses why I'm not qualified to serve God.
Why do I think it's all about me?
God doesn't need me. He has chosen me to serve Him, and to help fulfill His purposes.
He doesn't rely on MY strength to fulfill His will. He gives me HIS strength!
No, Gideon wasn't qualified.
I'm not either.
But that doesn't matter to God. We don't get in His way.
He gives us jobs to do, and then He gives us the means to do them.
All He does is ask that we are obedient. That we listen to Him, and follow His calling.
And we can have faith that He will do what He has promised.
God will take care of us. He will provide for us. It will not always be in the way we imagine. But it will be in the way that God knows is best, and that will bring Him glory.
Have you ever heard this phrase:
"God doesn't call the equipped. He equips those He calls."
That was true for Gideon.
It is true for me.
AND it is true for you.
God has a plan for you. You are someone He has chosen to help carry out His purposes. Whatever He calls you to do, He will enable you to do it.
He is big, almighty, eternal, and all-powerful. We can trust that He will keep His promises...just like he did for Gideon.
Linking with:
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Seeing Joy
Every day I see the work of Satan around me:
Worry. Fear. Anger. Discontentment. Gossip. Maliciousness. Meanness. Sadness. Grief.
Sometimes it seems like those things are the only things people feel and do and think. Like Satan's taking over the world.
In some ways, he has. God's given him some temporary, limited control over the earth--just for now. But God is still at work. His Holy Spirit is still active and changing lives and hearts. Jesus' sacrifice was all that was needed for the salvation of the whole world, once for all, and it has not nor will it ever be nullified.
The Gospel changes hearts. What Christ did for us on the cross took away the power of Satan in our lives. Sure, he still has ways of affecting our lives. Sin is still a big part of the world, and it's still part of every person, including believers.
But knowing what we know about what God has done for us changes everything. Having an eternal perspective on life means that we don't have to despair. The things that define who Satan is don't have to define us.
In Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives, we can know love. Peace. Contentment. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Selflessness. Comfort. Happiness. Joy.
Ann's Joy Dare for today asks for "3 ways you witnessed happiness today."
I witnessed happiness in a four-year-old holding her daddy's hand.
In a good-looking, head-over-heels-for-each-other couple hand in hand.
In my friend eating bread that I made yesterday.
And I experienced happiness myself:
In a hug from my husband.
Nearly two hours to read a good book undisturbed.
Several compliments on my outfit today.
Singing in choir beside a lovely friend.
So yes, Satan still has an influence on my life. But God has a bigger one. He's the one who has taken over my heart. He has "turned my mourning into dancing." The hope I have in eternal life means that this life can be one of joy.
Worry. Fear. Anger. Discontentment. Gossip. Maliciousness. Meanness. Sadness. Grief.
Sometimes it seems like those things are the only things people feel and do and think. Like Satan's taking over the world.
In some ways, he has. God's given him some temporary, limited control over the earth--just for now. But God is still at work. His Holy Spirit is still active and changing lives and hearts. Jesus' sacrifice was all that was needed for the salvation of the whole world, once for all, and it has not nor will it ever be nullified.
The Gospel changes hearts. What Christ did for us on the cross took away the power of Satan in our lives. Sure, he still has ways of affecting our lives. Sin is still a big part of the world, and it's still part of every person, including believers.
But knowing what we know about what God has done for us changes everything. Having an eternal perspective on life means that we don't have to despair. The things that define who Satan is don't have to define us.
In Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives, we can know love. Peace. Contentment. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Selflessness. Comfort. Happiness. Joy.
Ann's Joy Dare for today asks for "3 ways you witnessed happiness today."
I witnessed happiness in a four-year-old holding her daddy's hand.
In a good-looking, head-over-heels-for-each-other couple hand in hand.
In my friend eating bread that I made yesterday.
And I experienced happiness myself:
In a hug from my husband.
Nearly two hours to read a good book undisturbed.
Several compliments on my outfit today.
Singing in choir beside a lovely friend.
So yes, Satan still has an influence on my life. But God has a bigger one. He's the one who has taken over my heart. He has "turned my mourning into dancing." The hope I have in eternal life means that this life can be one of joy.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
He Conquered, He Rose, He Lives!
He didn't stay dead.
He didn't stay in that tomb, given by the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea.
He didn't stay humiliated by Satan.
He conquered: Satan, sin, death.
He rose: Out of the tomb, by the power of God.
He lives: death was brief, life is eternal.
Christ went to hell, but not to be punished. He went to declare his victory to Satan. Death is vanquished, life is won. Sin is powerless, grace and forgiveness reign.
And the resurrection of Jesus isn't a nice story about a nice man. It was a real-life miracle, it happened in a real place and time in history, and it was the most life-changing event in history. It had eternal, glorious repercussions for all of humanity. Because Christ was raised from the dead, having taken the debt to death that we paid, we also have life.
In 1 Corinthians 15 we read, "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith... If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" (15:13-14, 19-22).
He didn't stay in that tomb, given by the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea.
He didn't stay humiliated by Satan.
He conquered: Satan, sin, death.
He rose: Out of the tomb, by the power of God.
He lives: death was brief, life is eternal.
Christ went to hell, but not to be punished. He went to declare his victory to Satan. Death is vanquished, life is won. Sin is powerless, grace and forgiveness reign.
And the resurrection of Jesus isn't a nice story about a nice man. It was a real-life miracle, it happened in a real place and time in history, and it was the most life-changing event in history. It had eternal, glorious repercussions for all of humanity. Because Christ was raised from the dead, having taken the debt to death that we paid, we also have life.
In 1 Corinthians 15 we read, "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith... If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" (15:13-14, 19-22).
Monday, March 7, 2011
Christ has Triumphed!!
In two days it will be Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. I've been reading the book of Colossians the last few days, and a passage in chapter two struck me today. It's also appropriate for almost-Lent:
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (2:13-16)
For Israelites, being circumcised was the sign of their relationship and covenant with God. It meant they were chosen by him and one of his own. For Christians today, Baptism is a parallel sign of the same thing. The passage is talking about how when we were dead--in our sins, and therefore not in a relationship with God--he gave us life, in Christ. We were in debt to God because of our sins, that's what the "written code" is talking about. All those regulations are the laws of God. They're not bad, because they are necessary, but their purpose is to show us our sin and what we do wrong. What Jesus did with his death was take that Law and fulfill it completely, because we as imperfect humans can't. He took away the condemning Law from us, taking away our task of fulfilling it, and completed it himself.
What I love is the mental picture this passage gives, of Jesus nailing the Law to the cross, saying, "I'm going to take care of this so no one else has to." Those "powers and authorities" are Satan and his evil angels. Jesus took away all the power they have over us, and (in modern terms) he owned them. That is to say, he humiliated them, took away their power, and conquered them entirely. He has TRIUMPHED over sin! And death! And Satan himself! One of my favorite Easter hymns begins, "Jesus lives, the victory is won!"
What that means is that sin, death, and Satan no longer have any power over those who belong to Jesus, including ME! I sometimes forget that. Sometimes I wallow in my guilt and shame.
But Jesus took it all away. Yes, I sin daily. But you know what? I am already forgiven!!!! Jesus has ALREADY paid the entire price for my sin!! It no longer counts against me. The second I say, "Jesus, I'm sorry, please forgive my sin," he replies, "My child, it's already been forgiven."
I am a saved, loved, and forgiven child of GOD!!! May I dwell in the knowledge of that every day of my life. Even as we begin Lent, a time of pondering what Christ suffered for our sakes, we need not wallow in our sin, guilt, and despair. That makes the Good News of what Jesus did all about us, turning it into Law. It's not about us. It's about Him. What he's done. And what he's done is forgive us, destroy our sins and our debt, and give us new life and salvation.
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (2:13-16)
For Israelites, being circumcised was the sign of their relationship and covenant with God. It meant they were chosen by him and one of his own. For Christians today, Baptism is a parallel sign of the same thing. The passage is talking about how when we were dead--in our sins, and therefore not in a relationship with God--he gave us life, in Christ. We were in debt to God because of our sins, that's what the "written code" is talking about. All those regulations are the laws of God. They're not bad, because they are necessary, but their purpose is to show us our sin and what we do wrong. What Jesus did with his death was take that Law and fulfill it completely, because we as imperfect humans can't. He took away the condemning Law from us, taking away our task of fulfilling it, and completed it himself.
What I love is the mental picture this passage gives, of Jesus nailing the Law to the cross, saying, "I'm going to take care of this so no one else has to." Those "powers and authorities" are Satan and his evil angels. Jesus took away all the power they have over us, and (in modern terms) he owned them. That is to say, he humiliated them, took away their power, and conquered them entirely. He has TRIUMPHED over sin! And death! And Satan himself! One of my favorite Easter hymns begins, "Jesus lives, the victory is won!"
What that means is that sin, death, and Satan no longer have any power over those who belong to Jesus, including ME! I sometimes forget that. Sometimes I wallow in my guilt and shame.
But Jesus took it all away. Yes, I sin daily. But you know what? I am already forgiven!!!! Jesus has ALREADY paid the entire price for my sin!! It no longer counts against me. The second I say, "Jesus, I'm sorry, please forgive my sin," he replies, "My child, it's already been forgiven."
I am a saved, loved, and forgiven child of GOD!!! May I dwell in the knowledge of that every day of my life. Even as we begin Lent, a time of pondering what Christ suffered for our sakes, we need not wallow in our sin, guilt, and despair. That makes the Good News of what Jesus did all about us, turning it into Law. It's not about us. It's about Him. What he's done. And what he's done is forgive us, destroy our sins and our debt, and give us new life and salvation.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
"Certain of What We Do Not See:" Hebrews 11:1
Faith: a precious, undeserved, and completely free gift, yet it is something I struggle with, a LOT. Especially these last few days, for reasons that don't need to be shared publicly. Suffice it to say that I have been worrying about the future, doubting in God's providence, struggling to understand how he will take care of me, of us, and in short: I have been focused on myself and my little struggles and worries instead of on GOD and how big, powerful, all-knowing and compassionate he is.
He has been sending messages my way a lot lately, through my mom and some other women I don't even know yesterday, and today in church and again through my amazing mother.
The hymns we sang in church today were "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (he hears my prayers, I can go to him and he is always there for me, no matter what), "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" (God cares for my every need, I am his, and he will guide my life), "Children of the Heavenly Father" (I am his child, he protects me from all harm, nothing will separate me from his love), and most encouraging of all, "We Walk By Faith and Not By Sight." God is always near us, we can rejoice in his promise that he is always there, and we have nothing to fear in this life because we will spend eternity with him.
Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." My mom sent me an email this morning that also included 2 Corinthians 4:18: "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."
Today's epistle spoke to me, too, from 1 Corinthians: "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong...He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption." (1:25-26, 30)
I am very often foolish, weak in faith and body. But God is wiser and stronger in his foolishness and weakness than I am ever wise or strong. He gives me strength to have faith- to be sure of what I hope for, certain of what I do not, what I cannot, see. He knows my future. And he holds it in his hands. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'" (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
God has good plans for my future, plans to give me hope! He is there when I seek him, there when I don't, always hearing my prayers, even if I can't feel him.
Faith isn't about feeling. Faith is resting in the knowledge that God is God and I am not, and that is how it is supposed to be. God is there, God is real, God is in control, even when I can't see where my life is going. God loves me and forgives me and blesses me even when I fall away from him and struggle to trust in him. This is grace!
So. Today, I am going to be sure of what I hope for, and certain of what I cannot see.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Priorities
In Luke chapter ten, an "expert in the law" tried to test Jesus by asking him, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus asked him what he had read in the Law (the Old Testament, the Torah) and the man replied, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind', and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" This led into the parable of the Good Samaritan, when the man asked Jesus who his neighbor was. (See Luke 10:25-27)
When I was in Sunday School, one thing I learned was an acronym for JOY:
Jesus
Others
You
You will have joy, I was told, if your priorities are in this order.
A bit law-heavy, I feel, but it makes a good point nonetheless. When God is my first priority and first interest, when I seek to love, honor and obey him in everything, then everything else falls into place. When I am obeying God, then I will be loving and serving my neighbor--all those around me. And I will have joy and contentment in obedience and loving others. Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." (2:3-6) Paul continues with a beautiful, hymn-like poem detailing the life, ministry, and humility of Jesus, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!" (2:6-8)
Jesus, although he was "in very nature God", did not take advantage of that equality. He had his priorities in order: He first and foremost obeyed God, his Father, and then spent his entire ministry serving everyone with whom he came in contact. His ultimate act of service was to give his own life for the sins of the whole world. If that's not an example of ultimate selflessness and sacrifice, I don't know what is.
Now, we as Christians aren't all called upon to die for others and for what we believe in. But we can LIVE for God and for everyone around us! I know if I was more focused on others than myself most of the time, my life would probably be a lot less frustrating. I experienced the consequences of my own selfishness several times, rather painfully, this last week.
But I can imitate Christ. I have the ultimate Example of Selflessness and Love and Giving and Kindness to emulate. I will never do it perfectly, no. But that same Example desires to help me imitate him, and when I fail, he's always ready to remind me of his forgiveness.
Today, by the grace of God, I want to imitate Christ.
When I was in Sunday School, one thing I learned was an acronym for JOY:
Jesus
Others
You
You will have joy, I was told, if your priorities are in this order.
A bit law-heavy, I feel, but it makes a good point nonetheless. When God is my first priority and first interest, when I seek to love, honor and obey him in everything, then everything else falls into place. When I am obeying God, then I will be loving and serving my neighbor--all those around me. And I will have joy and contentment in obedience and loving others. Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." (2:3-6) Paul continues with a beautiful, hymn-like poem detailing the life, ministry, and humility of Jesus, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!" (2:6-8)
Jesus, although he was "in very nature God", did not take advantage of that equality. He had his priorities in order: He first and foremost obeyed God, his Father, and then spent his entire ministry serving everyone with whom he came in contact. His ultimate act of service was to give his own life for the sins of the whole world. If that's not an example of ultimate selflessness and sacrifice, I don't know what is.
Now, we as Christians aren't all called upon to die for others and for what we believe in. But we can LIVE for God and for everyone around us! I know if I was more focused on others than myself most of the time, my life would probably be a lot less frustrating. I experienced the consequences of my own selfishness several times, rather painfully, this last week.
But I can imitate Christ. I have the ultimate Example of Selflessness and Love and Giving and Kindness to emulate. I will never do it perfectly, no. But that same Example desires to help me imitate him, and when I fail, he's always ready to remind me of his forgiveness.
Today, by the grace of God, I want to imitate Christ.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Pondering Mary: Luke 1:26-56
In the title of this post, "pondering" could either be a verb or an adjective. I've been pondering about Mary this morning, when my fiance' and I were discussing this passage. But we can see how the word is an adjective in Luke 2:19: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." I'm going to imitate Mary and ponder "all these things"--the birth of Jesus--from her perspective for a bit today.
In Biblical times, women were pledged in marriage (not a sexual union but as binding a relationship as marriage) as young as fifteen or sixteen. We can assume Mary to be about that age. She was young, a virgin, and probably known by almost everyone in the small town of Nazareth, where she and her betrothed, Joseph, lived. We know that Joseph was a carpenter, so neither of them was very wealthy.
Mary was "highly favored" by God (Luke 2:18). He had found favor with her, and had chosen her as the young woman to be the mother of his Son. Mary was visited by an angel, six months after Mary's cousin Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah were visited by the same angel and Elizabeth miraculously became pregnant despite being well along in years. This angel, Gabriel, told Mary that she would "be with child and give birth to a son" (1:31) Gabriel explained that this baby would be the Son of God. Mary, quite understandably, asked, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (1:34) "The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you...For nothing is impossible with God" (1:35, 37).
Now, Mary was a good Jewish girl, and had heard her whole life about the coming Messiah that would be the Savior of God's people. She know how powerful God was. But in imagining this conversation she had with Gabriel, I wonder what was going through her mind: "I'm going to be pregnant even though I'm a virgin? What will my parents say? What will Joseph think? What about the whole town? They're never going to believe me that it's the Holy Spirit that made me pregnant. I mean, yeah, nothing is impossible with God, but how am I going to convince everyone of that? Will Joseph still want to marry me? He's going to think I've been unfaithful to him! The punishment for adultery is death! I could die!! What is God thinking?!?"
Chances are, if I had been in Mary's place, that's the sort of thing that would have been going through my head. We don't know what mary was thinking, but we know what she said, and it was an incredible display of faith: "'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said'" (1:38).
We often skim over this verse, but just think of the implications of it! Despite the dozens of difficulties and accusations that Mary was about to face, she was faithful and trusting in God. She went along with the plan, no matter how crazy it might have seemed.
Joseph was, understandably, very concerned when he learned that Mary was pregnant, but being a kind man, he planned to divorce her quietly instead of publicly disgracing her which would have led to her stoning and death. Before he could do this, he too was visited in a dream by Gabriel, who explained what had happened to Mary. Joseph believed the angel's message and took Mary to be his wife. They later had several other children, and settled back in Nazareth after Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (I'll get to that story another day!)
Mary is probably the Biblical woman whose faith I most desire to emulate. The book of Romans wouldn't be written for many years, but Mary realized that when God's in control, everything works out for good. Probably at the time of her pregnancy, she had no idea how much the baby inside her would change the course of human history, and be her own deliverer. I know she was somewhat aware of it (Gabriel shared a lot with her), but not until she saw her Son hanging from the cross, and then risen from the grave three days later, did she really understand what it meant to be the mother of God's Son.
One of my favorite Christmas songs, that connects nicely to this, is "Mary, Did You Know?" Here's a link.
In Biblical times, women were pledged in marriage (not a sexual union but as binding a relationship as marriage) as young as fifteen or sixteen. We can assume Mary to be about that age. She was young, a virgin, and probably known by almost everyone in the small town of Nazareth, where she and her betrothed, Joseph, lived. We know that Joseph was a carpenter, so neither of them was very wealthy.
Mary was "highly favored" by God (Luke 2:18). He had found favor with her, and had chosen her as the young woman to be the mother of his Son. Mary was visited by an angel, six months after Mary's cousin Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah were visited by the same angel and Elizabeth miraculously became pregnant despite being well along in years. This angel, Gabriel, told Mary that she would "be with child and give birth to a son" (1:31) Gabriel explained that this baby would be the Son of God. Mary, quite understandably, asked, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (1:34) "The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you...For nothing is impossible with God" (1:35, 37).
Now, Mary was a good Jewish girl, and had heard her whole life about the coming Messiah that would be the Savior of God's people. She know how powerful God was. But in imagining this conversation she had with Gabriel, I wonder what was going through her mind: "I'm going to be pregnant even though I'm a virgin? What will my parents say? What will Joseph think? What about the whole town? They're never going to believe me that it's the Holy Spirit that made me pregnant. I mean, yeah, nothing is impossible with God, but how am I going to convince everyone of that? Will Joseph still want to marry me? He's going to think I've been unfaithful to him! The punishment for adultery is death! I could die!! What is God thinking?!?"
Chances are, if I had been in Mary's place, that's the sort of thing that would have been going through my head. We don't know what mary was thinking, but we know what she said, and it was an incredible display of faith: "'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said'" (1:38).
We often skim over this verse, but just think of the implications of it! Despite the dozens of difficulties and accusations that Mary was about to face, she was faithful and trusting in God. She went along with the plan, no matter how crazy it might have seemed.
Joseph was, understandably, very concerned when he learned that Mary was pregnant, but being a kind man, he planned to divorce her quietly instead of publicly disgracing her which would have led to her stoning and death. Before he could do this, he too was visited in a dream by Gabriel, who explained what had happened to Mary. Joseph believed the angel's message and took Mary to be his wife. They later had several other children, and settled back in Nazareth after Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (I'll get to that story another day!)
Mary is probably the Biblical woman whose faith I most desire to emulate. The book of Romans wouldn't be written for many years, but Mary realized that when God's in control, everything works out for good. Probably at the time of her pregnancy, she had no idea how much the baby inside her would change the course of human history, and be her own deliverer. I know she was somewhat aware of it (Gabriel shared a lot with her), but not until she saw her Son hanging from the cross, and then risen from the grave three days later, did she really understand what it meant to be the mother of God's Son.
One of my favorite Christmas songs, that connects nicely to this, is "Mary, Did You Know?" Here's a link.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
He's Working for My Good: ALWAYS
I had originally intended to choose a Psalm to write about today, but other things are on my mind.
I'm tired. I think I'm coming down with something. My fiance is sick. I would rather skip classes for the next two days and have break now. I miss my parents and siblings. But (with the spirit of Thanksgiving quickly approaching)-- I have SO MUCH to be thankful for!!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
One of my favorite books ever is "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom. She was a Christian in Holland during WWII, and her family hid Jews in their home to protect them from the Nazis. The Jews they protected all stayed safe, but Corrie, her family and friends were arrested one day when the Nazis raided their house. Corrie and her sister Betsie were able to stay together when they were taken to the concentration camps, and they managed to smuggle in a Bible. Betsie was not strong enough to do physical labor, so she was forced to knit clothing for the Nazis while Corrie did hard manual labor. In the filthy dormitory where they lived, the beds were infested with lice. One night while reading the Bible, Corrie and Betsie came across this passage in 1 Thessalonians. Betsie prayed and thanked God for everything she could think of, including the lice. Corrie protested that she simply couldn't thank God for lice, but Betsie insisted. A few days later when Corrie returned from her work, Betsie met her joyfully. They had been holding Bible studies for other women in the dormitory, and couldn't understand why the guards were leaving them alone. That day Betsie had overheard the guards talking about why they wouldn't go into the dormitories. It was because of the lice. Corrie realized how true it is that we CAN thank God for EVERYTHING, because we can't see how he will work things out.
Paul writes in Romans 8:28, "For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Despite the little frustrations, discomforts, and inconveniences I've been experiencing lately, I know that I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Phil. 4:13), and that includes being joyful always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances, because God will work all things out for my good, even if I can't see or understand how.
Also, when I have an eternal mindset- knowing how short and temporal this life is, and how much more there is to life than the physical things- little things like sickness or weariness hardly matter. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "But [the Lord] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
It is when I am at my weakest that God can work most powerfully through me, because through my weakness his strength shines all the more. Through weakness, sickness, and trials, God can be glorified in and through me. So with Paul, I can say, "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me"!
I'm tired. I think I'm coming down with something. My fiance is sick. I would rather skip classes for the next two days and have break now. I miss my parents and siblings. But (with the spirit of Thanksgiving quickly approaching)-- I have SO MUCH to be thankful for!!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
One of my favorite books ever is "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom. She was a Christian in Holland during WWII, and her family hid Jews in their home to protect them from the Nazis. The Jews they protected all stayed safe, but Corrie, her family and friends were arrested one day when the Nazis raided their house. Corrie and her sister Betsie were able to stay together when they were taken to the concentration camps, and they managed to smuggle in a Bible. Betsie was not strong enough to do physical labor, so she was forced to knit clothing for the Nazis while Corrie did hard manual labor. In the filthy dormitory where they lived, the beds were infested with lice. One night while reading the Bible, Corrie and Betsie came across this passage in 1 Thessalonians. Betsie prayed and thanked God for everything she could think of, including the lice. Corrie protested that she simply couldn't thank God for lice, but Betsie insisted. A few days later when Corrie returned from her work, Betsie met her joyfully. They had been holding Bible studies for other women in the dormitory, and couldn't understand why the guards were leaving them alone. That day Betsie had overheard the guards talking about why they wouldn't go into the dormitories. It was because of the lice. Corrie realized how true it is that we CAN thank God for EVERYTHING, because we can't see how he will work things out.
Paul writes in Romans 8:28, "For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Despite the little frustrations, discomforts, and inconveniences I've been experiencing lately, I know that I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Phil. 4:13), and that includes being joyful always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances, because God will work all things out for my good, even if I can't see or understand how.
Also, when I have an eternal mindset- knowing how short and temporal this life is, and how much more there is to life than the physical things- little things like sickness or weariness hardly matter. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "But [the Lord] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
It is when I am at my weakest that God can work most powerfully through me, because through my weakness his strength shines all the more. Through weakness, sickness, and trials, God can be glorified in and through me. So with Paul, I can say, "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me"!
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