..but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God,
in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships,
in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments,
in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness,
in hunger, in purity, in knowledge,
in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit,
in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God;
by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
by glory and dishonour, by evil report and good report;
regarded as deceivers yet true;
as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold,
we live;
as punished yet not put to death,
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing,
as poor yet making many rich,
as having nothing yet possessing all things.
-2 Corinthians 6:4-10(Oh what sweet words to my soul are these)
Tag: scripture
The Ultimate
At the end of one of my favorite sequences of chapters…
Oh, the depths of the riches both of
the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable His ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who became His counselor?
Or who has first given to Him
that it might be paid back to Him again?
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever.
Amen.
Three Steps to Summer
I’m in Starbucks and getting ready to move out and do some shopping, but before then – wanted to write at least a small update! Had a pretty good week at work, quite possibly my least stressful week in quite some time! And the whole city(and country) is going a bit crazy over the upcoming Queen’s Jubilee(sixty years IS a long time, I suppose), so I’m looking forward to going over to the Smart’s for a Jubilee party on Tuesday night.
This morning I’ve been relaxing with my reading(classic Proverbs with some Ezekiel for good measure, plus a letter from dearest Laura!) and doing some tune-up on my laptop. For some reason, Windows has gobbled up some 28 GB of hard disc space, drastically eating away at my free space. Not cool, Windows. Not cool at all. So got to do some cmd prompt wizardry and free up some 15 GB of that. Excellent. Felt like I was back in high school – been a while since I’ve actually been able to use any of my computer knowledge!!
Also just downloaded some Andrew Belle music(graciously introduced to him by Steph – many thanks. *bows*) Great summertime music – oh I love “In Your Sleep”! I’m attempting to compile a summertime CD for my work driving pleasure, but I’ve only been able to find 12 suitable songs – tragic! Any suggestions?
Now, I really think I’ve been in Starbucks quite some time, so about time to go. Before I do though, you all should read through some of the prophets. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel…quite intense. The Book of Isaiah is grand, majestic and awe-inspiring. The Book of Jeremiah is tragic, mournful and almost depressing. And the Book of Ezekiel is enigmatic and tears-inducing. Of course, those are just my surface impressions, but reading them through is as encouraging an exercise as any I’ve done in some time, as much as they can bring me to feel such great sorrow. We are not that different now, than the stone-faced and hard-hearted people of Israel. Good to balance the prophets with some classic Thessalonians(always so encouraging!) Just read Ezekiel 22 today – seriously, go and read it. The sins of the people are grave. And the Lord will not forestall his wrath forever, although His compassion and lovingkindness are indeed greater than the skies and stretch further than the east is from the west. That I would be a man who would stand in the gap before the Lord. This is my prayer.
And now that that unexpected profusion has come to an end…it is time for me to flee Starbucks to the light of a Scottish afternoon!
Like eagles
Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these stars,
the One who leads forth their
host by number,
He calls them all by name;
because of the greatness of His
might and the strength of His power,
not one of them is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob,
and assert, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and the justice due me escapes
the notice of my God”?
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
the Creator of the ends of the earth
does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
He gives strength to the weary,
and to him who lacks might
He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired,
and vigorous young men stumble badly,
yet those who wait for the LORD
will gain new strength;
they will mount up with wings
like eagles,
they will run and not get tired,
they will walk and not become weary.
Redemption
Therefore, brethren, since we have
confidence to enter the holy place by
the blood of Jesus, by a new and
living way which He inaugurated for us
through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and since we have a great priest
over the house of God, let us draw
near with a sincere heart in full assurance
of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled clean from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with
pure water. Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is
faithful; and let us consider how to
stimulate one another to love and good
deeds, not forsaking our own assembling
together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another; and all
the more as you see the day drawing near.
A softer silence
“Nothing renders us so like unto God as our love unto Christ Jesus, for he is the principal object of his love;-in him doth his soul rest – in him is he always well pleased.”
-John Owen, The Glory of Christ
Just some brief musings as I read…truly, as difficult as Owen is to read at times, reading his writings on the glories and beauty of Christ is honey to my soul. Ah what longings it arouses in my heart, to read such sweet words on the nature and majesty of Christ and of the Father and of the Spirit and of their divine love and incomprehensible wisdom. As many good books as may be out on the bookshelves of this world, the ones I love reading the most are the ones that stir my passions for Jesus and let me see His face a little clearer. When a book brings me such joy, as to ponder on the ineffable Christ…this is when I know I’m reading the right book.
Oh my brothers and sisters, rest in peace tonight, knowing that our Savior is with us, always and forever.
Dreams of love
And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
The Son of God, who has eyes like
a flame of fire, and His feet are like
burnished bronze, says this:
‘I know your deeds, and your love
and faith and service and perseverance,
and that your deeds of late are greater
than at first. But I have this against
you, that you tolerate the woman
Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess,
and she teaches and leads My bondservants
astray so that they commit
acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed
to idols. I gave her time to
repent, and she does not want to repent
of her immorality. Behold, I will
throw her on a bed of sickness, and
those who commit adultery with her
into great tribulation, unless they repent
of her deeds. And I will kill her children
with pestilence, and all the
churches will know that I am He who
searches the minds and hearts; and I
will give to each one of you according
to your deeds. But I say to you, the
rest who are in Thyatira, who do not
hold this teaching, who have not known
the deep things of Satan, as they call
them- I place no other burden on you.
Nevertheless, what you have, hold
fast until I come. He who overcomes,
and he who keeps My deeds
until the end, to Him I will give
authority over the nations; and he
shall rule them with a rod of iron, as
the vessels of the potter are broken to
pieces, as I also have received authority
from My Father; and I will give him
the morning star. He who has an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches.’
Oh what sweet words!! Something that’s really hit me hard lately…how can we compartmentalize our lives so, and be so self-satisfied in our own accomplishments. How can we so easily tolerate and even praise the evils of this world? Oh let us overcome. Let us hold fast to the the words of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord. And let us praise His most glorious name! He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Hallelujah
How blessed is everyone who
fears the LORD,
Who walks in His ways.
When you shall eat of the fruit
of your hands,
You will be happy and it will be
well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful
vine within your house,
Your children like olive plants
Around your table.
Behold, for thus shall the man
be blessed
Who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion,
And may you see the prosperity
of Jerusalem all the days
of your life.
Indeed, may you see
your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm 128
Men of Valor
From the Gadites there came over to David in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains…
Seriously epic verse, no? I’m not actually sure why I posted that, but I just love finding random awesome verses like that. (1 Chronicles 12:8, if anyone’s wondering) And while there’s nothing particularly “spiritual” in that verse…well, my heart can’t help but be lifted up and inspired to be such a man of valor as they. Maybe I’m not equipped with shield and spear or I’m not actually as fast as a gazelle(seriously – those guys were beasts!!)…but may I serve my God with such a dedication as they. Sometimes we are too lax in our service to our God…comfortable in our nice warm homes in our luxurious cities. Not too many of us willfully choose to make ourselves uncomfortable by charging into the wilderness. Not often do we give up all that we have to serve our Savior. I just pray that as blessed as we are to live such comfortable lives, we give thanks to our God continually! And that we never seek our own pleasure or glory before that of our most awesome Father. Amen? Amen.
Also, may we constantly seek after our Lord’s face and delight in His Word to us! Let’s stop continually indulging in the things of this world…and instead rest in the quiet peace of knowing Jesus Christ. Take a moment away from thinking on the whirlwind that is this world and think upon the things of God. Rest in his glory. Rest in his love.
And now, as always, I leave you with mine.
Peace and love.
Oh blissful morning!
And don’t have long to write as it’s about time to go to Gilc to do some Christmas caroling! One note on Christmas music – I do so love that this is the one time of year where you can go to Starbucks and hear songs praising Jesus – such awesomeness!
And I’ll leave you with this…
The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength;
Indeed the world is firmly established, it will
not be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.
More than the sound of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The LORD on high is mighty.
Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness befits Your house, O LORD,
forevermore.
Epic glory. Ah, Psalm 93, love it.
Love you all.
Something Weird 