homesick
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Resurrection Sunday
this is all I want.
that He would turn this heart of stone into a heart of flesh. and in the only way He ever does when it comes to intimacy: not by throwing it across the room to shatter it, but by melting it with His love. He is Love.
that He would give me strength to throw off everything that hinders, including my unbelief and false knowledge and callousness and insecurity and shame,
that He would resurrect me, again.
that He would call me out of a barrenness that I've been ashamed of for so long.
that He would set me free to worship Him selflessly in spirit and in truth.
that He would set me free to truly "rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
that He would allow "streams of living water" to "flow from deep within".
that He would do all of these things by bringing me to a deeper knowledge of how direly I need a Saviour, how He has paid the price for our sin once and for all, how He loves...and all for His glory.
Show me miracles, show me for Your name.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
that He would turn this heart of stone into a heart of flesh. and in the only way He ever does when it comes to intimacy: not by throwing it across the room to shatter it, but by melting it with His love. He is Love.
that He would give me strength to throw off everything that hinders, including my unbelief and false knowledge and callousness and insecurity and shame,
that He would resurrect me, again.
that He would call me out of a barrenness that I've been ashamed of for so long.
that He would set me free to worship Him selflessly in spirit and in truth.
that He would set me free to truly "rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
that He would allow "streams of living water" to "flow from deep within".
that He would do all of these things by bringing me to a deeper knowledge of how direly I need a Saviour, how He has paid the price for our sin once and for all, how He loves...and all for His glory.
Show me miracles, show me for Your name.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
I shouldn't be blogging during charrette but I want to remember this
The message at First Presb today was about the tension between what we expect of Jesus and what he expects of us, who He is and who we want Him to be, as exemplified in the Triumphal Entry in the gospel of Matthew. Dahh I really wish I had more time to reflect on this...it's released a barrage of unresolved thoughts, and all during the final 28.5 remaining hours of charrette...
But anyways, something simpler -
the pastor ended the message by directing our attention to the guy who owned the donkey that the disciples got for Jesus. Jesus said, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
I wonder whether I am that person, with my own donkey and colt, my own time and hands and possessions. Will I too, when I find that "the Lord needs them", immediately respond? It's all the same message, and it's all so much easier said than done, huh.
But anyways, something simpler -
the pastor ended the message by directing our attention to the guy who owned the donkey that the disciples got for Jesus. Jesus said, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
I wonder whether I am that person, with my own donkey and colt, my own time and hands and possessions. Will I too, when I find that "the Lord needs them", immediately respond? It's all the same message, and it's all so much easier said than done, huh.
Friday, April 15, 2011
"He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher."
"The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about."
Unblind me...
"The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about."
Unblind me...
chewing on this
L says that Brother Dale says that
God's will is that you never take the initiative.
God's will is that you never take the initiative.
Monday, April 11, 2011
the threat of an all too familiar complacency.
too much (scratch that, lots of) opportunity and blessing
in sun as much as rain, must not forget:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer* and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Hebrews 12:1-3
*The older version of NIV that I've memorized before says "author". Pioneer vs. author? Hm.
in sun as much as rain, must not forget:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer* and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Hebrews 12:1-3
*The older version of NIV that I've memorized before says "author". Pioneer vs. author? Hm.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
the shrewd manager
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?..."
Wrestling with the meaning of this bizarre parable.
One thing I do know is that I've been praying for a wake-up call/motivation to "get my head on straight", as Dean said, and work hard with what I have (fish market TWELVE MORE DAYS, academics in general, Korea plans, keeping my word to almost-friends and close-but-not-quite-dependable friends). Maybe this is it. It's so easy to walk around with my head in the clouds, with a deceptive passiveness and optimism labeled as faith. I...just need to do things.
Also, v. 14 and 15,
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
-------------------------------------------------------------
In other news:
Really enjoyed yesterday's pin-up discussions. And we finalized the rooming situation, and SIGNED THE LEASE. Everything really worked out better than I imagined and I am so so grateful for the opportunities He gave me through this somewhat difficult process and the opportunities I'l have during OC life.
Wrestling with the meaning of this bizarre parable.
One thing I do know is that I've been praying for a wake-up call/motivation to "get my head on straight", as Dean said, and work hard with what I have (fish market TWELVE MORE DAYS, academics in general, Korea plans, keeping my word to almost-friends and close-but-not-quite-dependable friends). Maybe this is it. It's so easy to walk around with my head in the clouds, with a deceptive passiveness and optimism labeled as faith. I...just need to do things.
Also, v. 14 and 15,
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
-------------------------------------------------------------
In other news:
Really enjoyed yesterday's pin-up discussions. And we finalized the rooming situation, and SIGNED THE LEASE. Everything really worked out better than I imagined and I am so so grateful for the opportunities He gave me through this somewhat difficult process and the opportunities I'l have during OC life.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)