Thanks...
last post.
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I've moved my blog to tumblr this week, so this is my last post on this blog. I would love it if you kept reading on my tumblr. I will be posting more frequently than I have been. Little thoughts, quotes, pictures, lessons. Hope you'll visit me there.
he has come for us!
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Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and Angels sing. Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. Chains shall he break, and in his name all oppression shall cease.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through. The cross be borne for me, for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
Fall on your knees! Christ is the Lord!
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and Angels sing. Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. Chains shall he break, and in his name all oppression shall cease.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through. The cross be borne for me, for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
Fall on your knees! Christ is the Lord!
how long?
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There's a restlessness.
It penetrates the hollow of the heart and breaks the innermost.
If only to hear the words and see the One for which this heart yearns, then this earth-harnessed soul would be released!
But until then, these noisy groans will not be silent.
It penetrates the hollow of the heart and breaks the innermost.
If only to hear the words and see the One for which this heart yearns, then this earth-harnessed soul would be released!
But until then, these noisy groans will not be silent.
groanings for heaven
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Sitting in accounting class this week, I was bombarded with bad news. My teacher told us of corruption in businesses, bankruptcy in famous corporations, rampant selfishness and greed for money, and countless cases of cheating and deceit as a result. Hearing it all made me feel sick. "It's all about money," My teacher told us again and again. "Here's how to get a job with a six figure salary...If you can get that, then you know you're successful."
My heart sank. All of these permeating lies grieved me. What a broken, empty, messed up world! I wanted to stand up in class and scream that wealth and reputation are not what this life is about. It's about Jesus! Success isn't a good job and more money. It's being found righteous in Jesus by grace. We don't even achieve it by our own effort. Having a good life means losing it now for the joy set before us. It doesn't mean conniving others to get a better position at work. Why do we keep striving for useless things?
Everyone is longing for something. Something better or something more. Sadly, so many people nullify their longing with trivial things, attempting to fill the void with temporary pleasures, when the longing is only fulfilled by Jesus in Heaven.
The more this surrounding world breaks my heart, the more I long for my true Home. I want to go there. To find eternal satisfaction for all these yearnings. And the more I want to go there, the more I don't want to rust in comfort, wealth, and prestige while I'm still here. I want to live this life for that place, wearing myself out following and making much of Jesus. If it means poverty, let me go there that I might long more for treasures in Heaven. If it means rejection, may I remember Jesus on the cross and cling to it tighter. And if it means death, let me embrace it as gain.
The Christian life was not supposed to be comfortable and affluent. Jesus says the rich man has a hard time even entering the Kingdom of Heaven let alone living for that Kingdom. No, the Christian way is different and harder. It's a daily act of losing ourselves because we have everything in Jesus. David Brainerd, a missionary to American Indians in the 1700s, wrote about his suffering in relation to eternity. "Such fatigues and hardship as these serve to wean me more from the earth; and, I trust, will make heaven the sweeter."
I've been recently listening to Andrew Peterson's song, The Far Country, which so vividly portrays the reality of this fallen world. Peterson's heart cries in the midst of it though, saying "This is a far country, not my home." May these words shape us.
My heart sank. All of these permeating lies grieved me. What a broken, empty, messed up world! I wanted to stand up in class and scream that wealth and reputation are not what this life is about. It's about Jesus! Success isn't a good job and more money. It's being found righteous in Jesus by grace. We don't even achieve it by our own effort. Having a good life means losing it now for the joy set before us. It doesn't mean conniving others to get a better position at work. Why do we keep striving for useless things?
Everyone is longing for something. Something better or something more. Sadly, so many people nullify their longing with trivial things, attempting to fill the void with temporary pleasures, when the longing is only fulfilled by Jesus in Heaven.
The more this surrounding world breaks my heart, the more I long for my true Home. I want to go there. To find eternal satisfaction for all these yearnings. And the more I want to go there, the more I don't want to rust in comfort, wealth, and prestige while I'm still here. I want to live this life for that place, wearing myself out following and making much of Jesus. If it means poverty, let me go there that I might long more for treasures in Heaven. If it means rejection, may I remember Jesus on the cross and cling to it tighter. And if it means death, let me embrace it as gain.
The Christian life was not supposed to be comfortable and affluent. Jesus says the rich man has a hard time even entering the Kingdom of Heaven let alone living for that Kingdom. No, the Christian way is different and harder. It's a daily act of losing ourselves because we have everything in Jesus. David Brainerd, a missionary to American Indians in the 1700s, wrote about his suffering in relation to eternity. "Such fatigues and hardship as these serve to wean me more from the earth; and, I trust, will make heaven the sweeter."
I've been recently listening to Andrew Peterson's song, The Far Country, which so vividly portrays the reality of this fallen world. Peterson's heart cries in the midst of it though, saying "This is a far country, not my home." May these words shape us.
I can see in the strip malls and the phone callsThe flaming swords of EdenIn the fast cash and the news flashAnd the horn blast of warIn the sin-fraught cities of the dying and the deadLike steel-wrought graveyards where the wicked never restTo the high and lonely mountain in the groaning wildernessWe ache for what is lostAs we wait for the holy GodI was made to go thereOut of this far countryTo my home
Oh how I long for that place and that day when we see Jesus and all our striving is fulfilled!
the happiest place on earth
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We walked briskly towards our next ride. People hurried past us, brushing into our shoulders as they made their way through the crowd. Some families rested on benches outside little shops, while others sat at restaurant tables eating the food we hungrily craved. Mickey Mouse hats, princess dresses, and giant Winnie the Pooh stuffed bears speckled the landscape with Disney.
As we weaved our way through the mob, I made a quick glance toward my family on my left to make sure I was still with them. To my surprise, I saw my mom holding on to Layne who started throwing up. Looking at the littered pavement, the rest of us kids wondered how to help. While Layne and mom hurried off to find a bathroom and the oblivious crowd walked past without a glance, we guarded the mess on the ground so no one would step in it. We were a little embarrassed, but more than that, our hearts broke for Layne.
It was our first day in Disneyland – “the happiest place on earth” – and Layne was miserable.
She wasn’t the only one though. I heard a family grumble about a ride that was closed, saw a little boy cry because the ride was too scary, and watched a pregnant mother wait alone next to her stroller while the rest of her family enjoyed a roller coaster.
I realized “the happiest place on earth” wasn’t as happy as it was made out to be. It still disappointed, left people wanting more.
The day Layne got sick, one thought rarely left my mind.
Everything is meaningless under the sun
…even Disneyland.
The pleasures in this life are a striving after the wind. Fleeting. Momentary. Short-lived. Why worry yourself over having your best life now? It’s a wasted effort. Meaningless.
Rejoice that the Happiest Place is still to be enjoyed.
We’re ready for you. Come soon, King Jesus!
As we weaved our way through the mob, I made a quick glance toward my family on my left to make sure I was still with them. To my surprise, I saw my mom holding on to Layne who started throwing up. Looking at the littered pavement, the rest of us kids wondered how to help. While Layne and mom hurried off to find a bathroom and the oblivious crowd walked past without a glance, we guarded the mess on the ground so no one would step in it. We were a little embarrassed, but more than that, our hearts broke for Layne.
It was our first day in Disneyland – “the happiest place on earth” – and Layne was miserable.
She wasn’t the only one though. I heard a family grumble about a ride that was closed, saw a little boy cry because the ride was too scary, and watched a pregnant mother wait alone next to her stroller while the rest of her family enjoyed a roller coaster.
I realized “the happiest place on earth” wasn’t as happy as it was made out to be. It still disappointed, left people wanting more.
The day Layne got sick, one thought rarely left my mind.
Everything is meaningless under the sun
…even Disneyland.
The pleasures in this life are a striving after the wind. Fleeting. Momentary. Short-lived. Why worry yourself over having your best life now? It’s a wasted effort. Meaningless.
Rejoice that the Happiest Place is still to be enjoyed.
We’re ready for you. Come soon, King Jesus!
spinning another web
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I returned home from my walk a couple mornings ago just in time to watch a spider spin its web. Each movement was careful and the placement of the silk was exact. Spider legs often creep me out, but this time they were graceful and captured my attention. It was easy to tell that the spider was designed to spin a web.
As I continued to watch it circle the structure it was creating, carefully repeating its steps again and again, it struck me that this spider must get pretty tired of the same routine each day. Spin a web, sit on it, wait for a bug, kill the bug, drink its blood. That's the spider's life. It sounds extremely boring and monotonous but that's what God created it to do. And each time the spider does it, it brings glory to its Maker.
I then thought about my life. I quickly grow tired of the dull tasks in each day and long for a change of pace, a new adventure - something to get me out of the routine. It hit me recently how I'm often looking forward or rushing ahead to the next big thing in life, thinking it will be more important and more exciting than today. After all, a lot of life is organized in a way that points us to the next thing. We want more, want to move on, and experience something new.
This past week, I figured out school for this year and grew anxious for what the year would hold. It hit me though, while I was dreaming of what was to come, that I don't exist for those "next things". Even though our lives are working towards the next thing...school, getting married, having kids, etc...we exist to bring praise and glory to the King today. I'm not created to be satisfied in the next things when they come. I'm designed to be satisfied only in Jesus. It's great to plan and push towards the next thing and it's often hard work, but it's greater and sometimes harder to remember to worship Jesus today, when things are going slow and I'm constantly doing seemingly meaningless tasks.
A spider spins its web and glorifies Jesus doing so. It doesn't have a "next thing", that I know of anyway. Like me, it was designed to bring glory to Jesus. I ought not let the next thingsin my life get in the way of my worshiping Jesus today. That's what it's about. Jesus.
I may never even get to the next thing, but may today's "spinning of a web" be pleasing to Jesus.
homesick
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I have found myself longing for heaven in a way I don't think I ever have before. The desire to see Jesus overwhelms me at times...
It was a month or two ago, that we heard the news. A dear friend of ours was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. Each day she grew weaker. Every update told us she was even sicker. But one thing never changed. Her joy in Jesus lit up her face like it always had... Earlier today, she fell into a coma.
Six months ago, a family of five rejoiced at the news that they were expecting their fourth child. Last week, the ultrasound showed that their baby had no heartbeat. Even in their flood of tears, it is still evident that Jesus is their anchor... Yesterday was their second day of labor. Labor without the joy of a healthy baby in the end.
I have experienced similar suffering before, but that doesn't mean it gets easier. Each time I hear news like this, it is still hard to understand. But, one thing I have found is that death, sorrow, and pain give me a deeper longing for my real Home. A longing for the place where tears are wiped away and the grave is overcome by victory in Jesus, where the presence of Jesus casts out fear and overwhelms us with joy and peace.
David Brainerd, a missionary to American Indians in the 1700s, wrote about his suffering in relation to eternity. "Such fatigues and hardship as these serve to wean me more from the earth; and, I trust, will make heaven the sweeter."
It's true. Suffering loosens our grip on the world and strengthens the longing and desire we have to be with Jesus...
"Oh, that I might not loiter on my heavenly journey!"
It was a month or two ago, that we heard the news. A dear friend of ours was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. Each day she grew weaker. Every update told us she was even sicker. But one thing never changed. Her joy in Jesus lit up her face like it always had... Earlier today, she fell into a coma.
Six months ago, a family of five rejoiced at the news that they were expecting their fourth child. Last week, the ultrasound showed that their baby had no heartbeat. Even in their flood of tears, it is still evident that Jesus is their anchor... Yesterday was their second day of labor. Labor without the joy of a healthy baby in the end.
I have experienced similar suffering before, but that doesn't mean it gets easier. Each time I hear news like this, it is still hard to understand. But, one thing I have found is that death, sorrow, and pain give me a deeper longing for my real Home. A longing for the place where tears are wiped away and the grave is overcome by victory in Jesus, where the presence of Jesus casts out fear and overwhelms us with joy and peace.
David Brainerd, a missionary to American Indians in the 1700s, wrote about his suffering in relation to eternity. "Such fatigues and hardship as these serve to wean me more from the earth; and, I trust, will make heaven the sweeter."
It's true. Suffering loosens our grip on the world and strengthens the longing and desire we have to be with Jesus...
"Oh, that I might not loiter on my heavenly journey!"
I'd rather have Jesus
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Spirit, now living and dwelling within me, keep my eyes fixed ever on Jesus' face. Let not the things of this world ever sway me. I'll run till I finish the race.
O how easy it is to lose sight of Jesus and fall in love with this world! It's like a runner getting so caught up in the outfit he's wearing or the brand of shoes on his feet, that he forgets about the prize he's running to win. The silliest things steal our focus from where it ought to be.
The Bible says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
Ipods, cell phones, fashion, friends, money, fame...it doesn't last forever. Let go of it. Throw it off. Don't let it slow you down or distract you from the race you've set out on. You're running now for a greater prize than what this world has to offer.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise. Thou mine Inheritance, now and always. Thou and Thou only, first in my heart. High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
Not only do we run to wear the cool jersey, but some of us are running to hear the fans cheer. We long for the praise of man. It drives us - spurs us on. O that we would solely long to hear Jesus say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
May Jesus be our fortune, our prize, our desire. May we keep our fixed on His face. May we run just to hear Him say, "Well done." And may He be enough.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
O how easy it is to lose sight of Jesus and fall in love with this world! It's like a runner getting so caught up in the outfit he's wearing or the brand of shoes on his feet, that he forgets about the prize he's running to win. The silliest things steal our focus from where it ought to be.
The Bible says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
Ipods, cell phones, fashion, friends, money, fame...it doesn't last forever. Let go of it. Throw it off. Don't let it slow you down or distract you from the race you've set out on. You're running now for a greater prize than what this world has to offer.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise. Thou mine Inheritance, now and always. Thou and Thou only, first in my heart. High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
Not only do we run to wear the cool jersey, but some of us are running to hear the fans cheer. We long for the praise of man. It drives us - spurs us on. O that we would solely long to hear Jesus say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
May Jesus be our fortune, our prize, our desire. May we keep our fixed on His face. May we run just to hear Him say, "Well done." And may He be enough.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
easter isn't over yet
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This past week I've been meditating a lot on Jesus. Yes, it's been Easter, and naturally you tend to contemplate His death and resurrection then. But I think the thing that has challenged my heart most is how Christ's death and resurrection should change us. The gospel shouldn't be just a celebrate-on-Easter kind of gospel. It should be a daily-rejoicing, thought-consuming, heart-adoring kind of gospel. Jesus is just as good of news today as He was yesterday. Why don't we celebrate him today too?
Paul writes in Colossians 3:1-3:
Richard Baxter says it this way, "Why are not our hearts continually set on heaven? Why dwell we not there in constant contemplation?…Bend thy soul to study eternity, busy thyself about the life to come, habituate thyself to such contemplations, and let not those thoughts be seldom and cursory, but bathe thyself in heaven’s delights."
I've always loved the words Paul writes in the next verse "...Christ, who is your life..." Every time I read this passage I have to ask myself, is Christ really my life? Yes, I'm saved. I've died to the old self and am hidden in Christ, but do I live like Christ is my life? So often, I find myself getting distracted by the things of this world that I lose sight of Jesus. When Christ is your life, everything is about Him. School, work, play, or whatever it is...it's all about, because of, and for Jesus. Everything. I believe Paul is trying to show us that celebration of Jesus, which we tend to save for Easter, ought to be our life. It ought to be what we're living for.
Easter isn't over yet. Let's celebrate Jesus again today!
Paul writes in Colossians 3:1-3:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.Paul doesn't let us get away with saying, "Ok, Easter break was fun. Now back to school." No, he gives us a response to the resurrection. "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. " It's like Paul is saying, don't let Easter become a one-weekend event. Since Jesus is alive and you're alive in Him, you've got to set your heart and your mind on Jesus and the hope you have in Him continually. Meditate on Him. Let eternal things consume your thoughts. Don't think too highly of school, money, or friends, that your mind wanders from heaven and Christ who is reigning there. Let Christ be good news to you even today. Keep celebrating!
Richard Baxter says it this way, "Why are not our hearts continually set on heaven? Why dwell we not there in constant contemplation?…Bend thy soul to study eternity, busy thyself about the life to come, habituate thyself to such contemplations, and let not those thoughts be seldom and cursory, but bathe thyself in heaven’s delights."
I've always loved the words Paul writes in the next verse "...Christ, who is your life..." Every time I read this passage I have to ask myself, is Christ really my life? Yes, I'm saved. I've died to the old self and am hidden in Christ, but do I live like Christ is my life? So often, I find myself getting distracted by the things of this world that I lose sight of Jesus. When Christ is your life, everything is about Him. School, work, play, or whatever it is...it's all about, because of, and for Jesus. Everything. I believe Paul is trying to show us that celebration of Jesus, which we tend to save for Easter, ought to be our life. It ought to be what we're living for.
Easter isn't over yet. Let's celebrate Jesus again today!
live it
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What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without living them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.I was greatly challenged by this passage this morning. I've heard it many times before but realized that I have to consistently check my life to make sure I'm living out what's in my heart and mind. So often we gain knowledge that piles up in our brains collecting dust or boosting our self esteem. It becomes our life to simply know more of the God in heaven, to unveil the mysteries of His character. We go to church on Sunday mornings and listen to sermons about Jesus and then spend every morning during the week in the word simply trying to understand it better.
But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
I'm not saying those are bad things, because they aren't. I'm saying faith can't simply be that. Show me that you believe in God by how you live. In other words, don't let your faith be head knowledge and that's it. Display it by reaching out to the world.
Faith without works is dead. Live it.
[James 2:14-26]
don't give up
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"As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good"2 Thessalonians 3:13
"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."Galatians 6:9
at the first pop of the popcorn
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This last week, a Japanese friend of ours from church came over for popcorn and a movie. She had never had popcorn before or seen it made over the stove. I pulled out our metal popcorn pot and poured into the pan some hard kernels. She looked in the pan before I closed the lid and then I started stirring while the kernels heated up. We couldn't see inside the pan, but we listened for the pop of the corn. Soon, it sounded like fireworks were going off in the pan. She looked at me with wide eyes and asked, "Is it safe?" I reassured her that it was, and once the corn had finished popping, I opened the lid and let her look inside. White fluffy corn filled the pot.
When she asked if it was safe, I couldn't help but think of when Jesus will come back. We don't know the hour when Jesus will arrive, but we can only keep our ears and hearts open to that day. When we hear the first pop of the corn or the first shout of the trumpet, I believe it will be terrifying and people will ask, "Is it safe?" And I guarantee you that for those who don't know Jesus, it will be the most frightening and dangerous day of their life. The bible says that every knee will bow on that day, whether that person believed in Jesus or had nothing to do with Him. The magnificence of Jesus will demand glory from us whether we like it or not.
When she asked if it was safe, I couldn't help but think of when Jesus will come back. We don't know the hour when Jesus will arrive, but we can only keep our ears and hearts open to that day. When we hear the first pop of the corn or the first shout of the trumpet, I believe it will be terrifying and people will ask, "Is it safe?" And I guarantee you that for those who don't know Jesus, it will be the most frightening and dangerous day of their life. The bible says that every knee will bow on that day, whether that person believed in Jesus or had nothing to do with Him. The magnificence of Jesus will demand glory from us whether we like it or not.
Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready."
Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true words of God."
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. "
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
not my home
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My Uncle visited us from Missouri this weekend. Being a chaplain in the army, he moves a lot. His wife and five kids are still living in Kentucky, until he finds a house in Missouri. As we visited with him this weekend, I once again marveled at the heart of this man. He hasn't seen his family for three weeks but still smiles and speaks of the greatness of God in every conversation.
Although, "home" changes for this family often, their life describes what Paul said in Philippians 3.
Although, "home" changes for this family often, their life describes what Paul said in Philippians 3.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ...
rejoicing in rejection
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...They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
Satan used persecution to try to stop the apostles from spreading the good news of Jesus. But instead, they considered it an honor to suffer rejection for Christ's name. In the same way, when we are faithful in sharing the Gospel, hardships will come our way. Don't be surprised by them, but rejoice in them.
If Satan wants to stop you, you're doing the right thing...
[Acts 5:40-42]
you'll want armor in this battle
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"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."I noticed two things from this passage today that I hadn't noticed before. Normally, when I read about the armor of God, I picture the Bibleman movies when Bibleman puts on his armor before going out into the world. It's almost like I view this passage as only for kids. It's the passage that excites them, one of the first passages they memorize. All that thinking was turned on its head today when I realized what is being implied behind these verses.
First, God gives us a command to be strong, but then He doesn't just leave us to accomplish it by our own capabilities, he gives us the means to carry out the command. "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." We're not in this fight alone.
Second, the passage gives a clear warning and implication that there will be trials. There will be a battle. There will be hard times ahead. Like I already mentioned, it's easy to picture Bibleman when I read this verse and simply end with that. God's warning us and commanding us to be strong on purpose. This is real life. These are real battles that can only be withstood by daily being strengthened by the power of God and protected by the armor of God.
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
[Ephesians 6:10-18]
with nothing left
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"Oh, how sweet it is to be spent and worn out for God!" These are the simple but wonderfully true words of David Brainerd, a missionary to American Indians in the 1700s. Brainerd was saved at the age of 21 and died when he was only 29, but looking at his life it is clear to see the impact he had in that short time. Though weak and painfully ill in the last few years of his life, he spent himself to the end, riding for miles on horseback just to reach more Indians with the Gospel. His life is a testament to the truth that he preached.
Examining David Brainerd’s life should cause us to question what we are spending our lives on. Are we focused on Facebook, Wii, shopping, and sports, or are we all about advancing God’s kingdom for the sake of the Gospel? It occurred to me that I don’t want to reach the end of my life full of energy, time, money, or talent that I could have spent on the advancement of God’s kingdom. And I don't want to spend what I do have on the wrong things. When I stand before God, I want to be spent, wasted, and exhausted, because I chose to give every part of my being to His work.
We can’t know the end of our lives, whether it will be when we’re 89 or 29 like it was for David Brainerd. But we can decide today how we want to spend those remaining days. How are you going to spend yours? On fleeting comforts of this world or on mission for God? Before David Brainerd died he wrote these words, “I declare, now I am dying, I would not have spent my life otherwise for the whole world.”
Oh, that we may be able to say those words on our death bed and enter God’s presence completely spent on advancing the kingdom of God!
Examining David Brainerd’s life should cause us to question what we are spending our lives on. Are we focused on Facebook, Wii, shopping, and sports, or are we all about advancing God’s kingdom for the sake of the Gospel? It occurred to me that I don’t want to reach the end of my life full of energy, time, money, or talent that I could have spent on the advancement of God’s kingdom. And I don't want to spend what I do have on the wrong things. When I stand before God, I want to be spent, wasted, and exhausted, because I chose to give every part of my being to His work.
We can’t know the end of our lives, whether it will be when we’re 89 or 29 like it was for David Brainerd. But we can decide today how we want to spend those remaining days. How are you going to spend yours? On fleeting comforts of this world or on mission for God? Before David Brainerd died he wrote these words, “I declare, now I am dying, I would not have spent my life otherwise for the whole world.”
Oh, that we may be able to say those words on our death bed and enter God’s presence completely spent on advancing the kingdom of God!
far more stunning than before...
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When I left my house for school this morning, the sun shone brightly and a Robin's egg blue patched the sky like a giant quilt. I smiled at the Sparrows' morning melody and squinted from the gleam of light spilling through the windows of the car. Beautiful.I soon merged onto the freeway still squinting from the sun until a thick cloud sank to the road before me. The sun disappeared, and I felt as if I were in a bubble of fog. All I could see was a few yards of street ahead of me and the couple cars that shared the road beside me. Here and there a glimmer of dim sunlight squeezed it's way through the cloud reassuring me that it was still there and I only had a little longer until I would see it. So I drove on.
For several more minutes fog swirled around me and its canopy hid the sun. Then one golden sun beam split the gray fog. And then another. Soon all the sun's light broke through the cloud I'd been in and scattered the fog until, once again, I focused my gaze upon the beautiful morning I had anticipated from the start. But, it was even more stunning than before.
This experience reoccurred a couple more times during the rest of my drive, yet each time I escaped the foggy world around me, I knew I'd never seen the sun shine so bright. The cycle of fog to sun reminded me of my walk with the Lord. As a new Christian, the journey starts off with a clear view of Jesus. Everything is exciting and beautiful... until the fog sets in. The things of this world begin to steal our focus, and we lose sight of the One for which we're striving. We feel distant from God, as if He isn't there, and we can't see but a few feet around us. Nevertheless, even when we can't see God, He hasn't forgotten us. Just as the sun dimly peaked through the fog reminding me of its presence, so God reminds us that He is still there. He constantly draws us back to Himself, melting the fog that separates us, until we refocus our gaze on His glory.
Sadly, it's hard to keep our eyes on Jesus all the time, so this process is often repeated. But every time we're rescued from the haze, God is only more beautiful in our eyes. We see Him more clearly, love Him more deeply, and hold on to Him more tightly.
Before I knew it, my drive to school had ended. As I stepped out of the car, I immediately felt the warmth of the sun which flooded the campus with light. In the same way, soon our journey to heaven will end. The cycle of fog to sunshine we'll be over, and we'll know for sure the journey was worth it. When we finally step into the presence of our God, we will be drenched in the warmth and splendor of His light.
And it will be far more stunning than before.
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