Hello friends! Sunday evening here and it is still gloriously bright outside. But no, I am not writing this from outside myself, I regret to say. Dani and I did accomplish a most lovely walk soaking in the unseasonably warm sunlight and treading the well-worn Heights paths. It ended up at new ice cream shop whereupon some pistachio ice cream was much enjoyed (by Dani) and then our feet finally wandered on home. Now I feel a bit tired but the good kind of tired, the kind where your body is grumbling a bit but your soul is happy knowing the miles walked were worthwhile ones. Now you can picture evening here if you know me even a little bit. Tomato sauce bubbles gently on the stove. A candle is flickering on the table. A little classical music plays on the TV. It’s a random spring compilation at moment, but I think I may put on Beethoven’s violin concerto in a moment – discovered a new performance by Alena Baeva that I am rather looking forward to listening to. And yes, a book at the side. I thought about writing something more – poetry or ponderings on the powerfully rich and beautiful sermon this morning? Perhaps a poem later, I know not. As for the sermon, we meditated upon the death of Christ. Luke 23:26-43 and the wonder that is God going forth to die that we might live. The one man in all history that could have not died and yet he did not save himself. No, he did not. He died so that we might live. He died so even I might one day be with him in paradise. Oh my soul thrills at the thought. Jesus, how I long to be with you.
Tag: sermon
Early Morning Dreaming
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.
The Sovereignty of the Lord
Happy Tuesday, friends!! This morning I enjoyed a nice drive to work as the sky slowly lightened. And as I drove, was being mightily blessed by listening to an old Dominic message from Isaiah 36-37. It’s too long to go into depth here(although if you want to listen as well, just let me know and I’m sure I can find the link somewhere). But in brief – too often do we grow anxious over some difficult situation in our life and we just fall to pieces. Why? Because our faith is small. Because we don’t understand the sovereignty of God. Here in Isaiah 36 – the kingdom of Judah, ruled by Hezekiah, is threatened by one of the largest and most brutal empires the world had ever seen. The Assyrian empire has turned its eyes on Jerusalem and threatened to bring down divine judgment upon her. We think we have big problems? I think Hezekiah has you beat. But what does Hezekiah do? Does he just fall apart and crumple under the weight of this severe threat? No. He does what all of us should do when our spirits are in distress. He repents in sackcloth and ashes and enters the house of the Lord. He recognizes that this threat from Assyria isn’t so terrible because it threatens him. The real sin of the Assyrian king Sennacherib was that he blasphemed God. And so Hezekiah pleads for the help of the living God, for the salvation of the remnant and for the glory of His own Name. Might we all remember to pray as such! Pray for yourself, yes. Pray for mercy, pray for salvation from evil. But never forget to pray that the name of the Lord be glorified, for it is He who is truly the target of all the attacks of the forces of evil in this world. Our Lord is sovereign, seated above the heavens. Our God is oh so loving and compassionate to us His children. Our God is glorious and worthy of all praise and honour from all the heavens and all the earth. May the mountains clap their hands and may the seas sing the praises of our God. Someday indeed all flesh shall join the chorus of worship to the Lord God Almighty.
So I’m going to close by just quoting the words of the prayer of Hezekiah. I urge that you pray as such today…
Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it,
and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.
Hezekiah prayed to the Lord saying,
“O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim,
You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have
made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes,
O Lord, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to
reproach the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have devastated
all the countries and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire, for
they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have
destroyed them. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the
kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.”
Untitled
Well, I can’t think of a title for this post yet, but John has given me instructions to just go ahead and write something(instead of stare at the glowing blank screen!) and worry about the title later. That is sound advice, so write I shall!
It’s Sunday evening, and I could ponder the upcoming work week. Or I could think on the awesomeness that has taken past this weekend. Yes. That sounds much better. And so I think of yesterday, waking up around 8AM and feeling exhausted(pretty much entirely due to playing Street Fighter II with John until far too late the night before. Yes, it stole our sleep. But WE WERE VICTORIOUS. Take that, M. Bison). Right, so waking up yesterday morning…walking down George St and grabbing a choc doughnut from Thain’s on the way to Books and Beans. Spending a delightful morning there, first reading and enjoying my mocha and eventually enjoying a good lunch with Rebecca!
And then the rest of the day – came back here and spent most of the afternoon making chocolate chip cookies! I was in a rare baking mood and could not let that go to waste. So watched National Treasure and made heaps of chocolate chip cookies. If I say so myself, they were pretty delicious. Of course, me and John tested the dough sufficiently beforehand.
Now, after spending hours baking – me and John made our way to Chris and Jo’s for…my leaving party!! Thankfully, while it was my leaving party, I was also very conscious that I’d see (pretty much) everyone again, so it wasn’t too sad. I loved walking up to their door and seeing a sign posted there, reading in Elven script, “No Admittance Except on Party Business”. Classic. (And sorry if you don’t get that – Lord of the Rings reference).
So yeah, party time!! Oh what a lovely time it was! There were plenty of delectable treats and some quite delicious Tokaji(thanks Chris and Jo and Aiysha!!) and there were friends aplenty and conversation flowed on and on into the night. No tears. Not yet. And I simply enjoyed being with my friends. A night of joy – a night of love. What have I done to deserve such dear friends and close companions? I know not – but I do know this – my God has blessed me exceedingly more than I could ever have hoped or dreamed. My God has been good to me. And as I think on this, on how my God has given me good things – this causes my spirit to rise and soar and my hopes for the future flare bright as I think that the God that has carried me thus far will not now let me slip through the cracks of time. My God will continue to be with me, even in that far-off land of Houston! I need fear not.
And seriously now! How much am I going to write this night!? I must rein in my fingers now. But let me spend a few moments on today. After church this morning, came back and enjoyed a bit of time in the garden. Sadly, the sun spent most of the time being a tease and hiding behind the clouds, but I still got some quality reading time! Eventually, it got a little too cold, so I came in and chilled in the lounge with John.
And then this evening back at Gilc we heard an epic sermon on Jonah from Dominic. I don’t think epic is really the right word, but my mind is a bit too frazzled now to come up with a better. Anyway, he preached on God being the God of second chances(and third and fourth…and five hundred and sixty fifth…) and how despite all of Jonah’s flaws and issues(he was not exactly a model citizen, what with his prejudices and lack of compassion!), God still used him to do his work. Think on us – we with our rebellious natures and wayward souls…God loves us all the same. And our God and Father turns our eyes and hearts back to Him and gives us missions to perform. We may mess up at times. Ok, we will mess up all the time. But God – He with His everlasting lovingkindnesses – continually renews our hearts and points us in the way we should go. So if you are feeling a bit far from God right now – think on His goodness. Think on His love. Think of Christ. Think of these things and let your heart be open to the love of God – thank our Father for all the many blessings we receive. Each and every day. Even now, I sit on this couch in comfort(and in darkness – not really sure why we haven’t turned the lights on yet. Hm). I have a warm cup of coffee sitting next to me. I have my Bible on my lap. These are all good things. These are all from God. The God who is good. The God who gives us second chances. The God who loves us so.
And now – this is much more than I meant to be writing! But I shall let it stand. I am going to read a bit more tonight – maybe write a bit more too. We shall see.
Farewell my friends!!
(Oh wait, I need a title now. Hm. Oh whatever)
Peace!
Morning Light
Thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to write a few words prior to starting work here! Got in a few minutes ago and made my coffee to warm up. It’s less than 40 degrees outside…and it’s almost June. This is completely intolerable! I’m tired of being cold. So roll on summer!
And besides my random weather thoughts, what else is going on lately, you may ask? Well, mostly just keeping busy at work, although also having some sweet times with people on the side! Got to catch up with Graham for dinner on Tuesday night, and then me and Ruth hit up Starbucks last night. Good times, always. And of course, last night was Wednesday bible study – Joel led it with an awesome message from Genesis 1. Powerful and beautiful…just thinking about the majesty and intricacy and utter beauty of all that God has wrought from nothing. Stunning. And unsurprisingly, good discussion and prayer was had following that.
And now, I probably should close this and get ready for my work day. Laters!!
Seventy Sevens
Briefly, e’er so briefly I shall write! Just eaten a most delicious dinner of spaghetti(with Mom’s sauce recipe…eating it made me feel like I was home!! Can’t wait for delicious spaghetti leftovers the rest of this week). Now I’m about to enjoy my Harrenhal tart(made by Jo!) with a bit of coffee as I read and enjoy the remainder of this gorgeous weekend…
But truly, this weekend has been delightful! This morning I got to catch up with Jackie at Pret before church – hadn’t seen her in months! Sweet times talking, as always. And then even better times worshiping together with our whole church family! After church, while the spaghetti sauce simmered, me and John watched Two Towers(one of the best movies ever made, no?) and then this evening, we had our communion service at Gilc after a most awesome sermon on Daniel 9 by Pastor Dominic. Afterwards, had sweet times talking with Chris and Jo before driving them home and now the football is on TV as John and I chat.
I think I’ve said enough about my day(but seriously, am I not blessed with so many good things??) I think it is now time for my tart and coffee and book! But first…I’ll leave you with a brief something I wrote this night at church…
We threw ropes of shame
up to the stars
and pulled them down to earth.
We danced upon our mothers’ graves
as we shouted
songs of mirth.
We drank deep of
the blood of mountains
and drained
our lovers dry.
We sang sweetly
songs of justice
as we reviled
the weeping sky.
We shut our eyes
to creation’s glory,
we shut our ears
to starry song.
Oh Lord, how long your coming?
Oh Lord, have mercy on your sons.
Oh Lord, how long your glory?
Oh Lord – your love!
How long?