Happy Monday, all! I have not much energy for writing at the moment…but still thought it’d be proper to write a few words. Nice 3:45 wakeup this morning, breakfast, reading(Ezra – remember the gravity and terror of sinning against the holy God), etc. A little bit emotionally weary – always that way after a busy weekend I suppose? But I was encouraged anew upon driving to work and hearing some good preaching by Dominic on 2 Kings 4. Then got to see Jake and Katie at Starbucks – always enjoyable chatting with both of them, for true. Now as I sip on my surprisingly delicious mocha americano(recommended by Katie – will have to remember to thank her!), I sit here at my desk at work, preparing for a busy week. God is my fortress, my song and my deliverer. I need not fret nor fear. Surely, my God is with me to the end.
Tag: faithfulness
Lanterns in the Sky
Happy Friday, friends!! I really have nothing to say – it’s the end of a fairly productive week here at work and I’m happy that it’s almost time for a restful(I hope!?) weekend. We shall see!! But for now, I will thank my God for all He has granted me…even for this peppermint mocha that I am drinking now! May I always remember the faithfulness of my God. As He has loved me, so may I love others. As He has been patient with me…so may I be patient in waiting for that which I desire. Now as I ponder and think on various matters, I am at peace. My hope is in something far better than the things of this world. My hope is in something far more beautiful than anything of this earth. My heart craves the temporal vanity of this world too often. Yet eternity waits.
Expressly Yours
I’m listening to my Enfield playlist as I sit here in Starbucks and I have to say – I forgot how amazing these songs are!!! Oh how I love so many of these classic hymns. There is a Fountain, And Can It Be?, Jesus I My Cross Have Taken, O The Deep Deep Love of Jesus…etc, etc, etc. Gorgeousness. I’m tempted to write ALL THE VERSES from one of my very favourites – Jesus, I my Cross Have Taken…but I shall spare you this time. I’m pretty sure I’ve done that sometime in the past. And I’m pretty sure I will do it again sometime in the future.
It is good to remember the mercies of the Lord.
And while I’m in a pondering mood, thought I’d write some thoughts I was thinking last night. Was wearing one of my favourite shirts – a nice bright blue shirt with the words “HONOUR”, “LOYALTY”, “VALOUR” superimposed over a lion rampant. It’s interesting that these words are (apparently) held in such high esteem and I was wondering – what do those words really signify to people today? According to the Oxford English, honour means “high respect” or “great esteem” or “the quality of knowing and doing what is morally right”. In the same, loyalty means “the quality of being loyal” or “a strong feeling of support or allegiance”. As for valour…”great courage in the face of danger, especially battle”. Do those words truly mean anything to most of us these days though…or are they just empty concepts that make us feel better about ourselves? What do we have high respect or great esteem for? Or do we just crave that esteem for ourselves? What are we truly loyal to? Or whom? And when do we show great courage these days? Is it in day-to-day life or just in the contrived fantasies of our mind?
I think we like to think more highly of ourselves than we ought and it is self-flattering to think that we exhibit these qualities of honour, loyalty and valour in our everyday lives. But do we truly? Is there a higher calling that beckons us to live in such a way? I would say there is. But it is not in the way most would commonly think. We ought to live in such a way that every action of our life brings great honour and glory to our God. We ought to live in such a way that everything we do proves our loyalty and faithfulness to our God. And we ought to live our lives coloured by valour and courage in the face of trials and tribulations and all that stands against us as we strive to please our God. Do these things come easy? Of course not. And we are frail creatures and oft exhibit the opposite virtues…we feel shamed, unfaithful and craven as we disobey our God in thought, word and deed. But. But. If we truly put our faith in Christ for our salvation – God has saved us! Not because of deeds that we have done. But because of His great love.
And so because God loved us when we were so eminently unlovable and because our God has filled us with His Holy Spirit and because Christ daily intercedes for us before the Father…now we can exhibit these qualities of godly honour, godly loyalty and godly valour. Let us remember that. We can do all things through Christ who grants us strength. Go forth this day and honour God in all things. Go forth this day and seek to be loyal to God in every word you speak. Seek to live in valour before our God. For truly, He is our Lord. He is our God. And He loves us.
What a wondrous thing it is to be known by God. We are His dearly loved children. Amen and amen.
To The Shops
So I was planning on writing a long and interesting entry here today. Really!! I’m here at Starbucks for the first time in a while – just felt like getting out and about and being somewhat public in my coffee-drinking and computering – and I thought surely I’d then feel in the mood to write for a while. Sadly, that has not turned out to be the case. I have been (mildly) productive at least. Gotten a few correspondences written and just now written my shopping list – planning a dinner of baked cod and mashed potatoes tonight and it shall be glorious – this I declare!!
Any other news? I suppose I could ramble on and on about nothing in particular, but that doesn’t sound appealing at the moment. Just know that it is a quiet September morning here and although not all is as I would wish it, I trust in the Lord. Truly a lesson I need to be learning of late. Sometimes it seems I try to make things happen of my own volition and that…doesn’t always work. Yet it is also no good to simply sit back and “wait for God to work”. It’s a balance of having faith in my God that He is working…and also taking steps in faith, trusting God that He is working in and through me, each and every day. Oh that I would ponder on the mercies and glories of God more. The things of this world are pale and thin indeed when compared to the glories of knowing my God.
Remember that, always.
Peace, my friends – peace and love.
Something Weird 