A sleepy morning. Yet I must confess I had a most enjoyable reading time(with my eggs and coffee)…reading a couple of my favorite chapters – Luke 21 & 22. I don’t have time to fully explicate these chapters and describe my thoughts…but this morning as I read, I was just encouraged by the words and actions of Jesus. From Him telling Peter, “Simon, Simon – Satan has demanded permission to sift you as wheat. Yet I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. When you have returned, strengthen your brothers.” We could spend hours just discussing that alone!! Oh how I love the fact that although Jesus doesn’t deny Satan permission to test Peter….he does say He prayed for Peter – he prayed for his faith. Oh how I long that Jesus would pray thus for me. And later on…as Jesus is fervently praying and tired and emotionally worn out…he is strengthened by an angel from heaven. Then he comes back and sees the disciples and what are they doing? Sleeping of course. He tells them “Pray that you might not fall into temptation.” Oh might I heed these words – what is better, to be self-satisfied and confident in my own abilities, to be awake yet sleeping? Or to desparately pray for that aid which we know we need, that we not stumble and fall. And later on in the chapter of course…Peter denies Christ, as Jesus knew he would. And at that moment of Peter’s third denial, we read that “Jesus turned and looked at Peter”. What was in Jesus’ eyes? What was that look? I imagine it as sorrow and love mingled…yet I cannot say. But Peter responded as is only proper. He fled and wept bitterly. To deny our Lord and Christ – how can we do this? Yet we do it every day. Pray to the Father for relief from temptation. Cry out to the Lord in prayer, day and night. And remember…Jesus is even now(as per Luke 22!) at the right hand of God in glory and He never ceases to plead your case. Forgiven am I. Eternity with my God awaits. Ne’er should I doubt my future when such joy is assured.
Tag: theology
Apples and Cinnamon
So today will be an interesting day. The weather conditions are advertised as being a “wintry mix”, which when hearing that – sounds delightfully pleasant right? Wintry mix sounds to me like maybe a peppermint tea or exotic hot cocoa or something delicious that can be sipped while cosy at home during the depths of winter. But no – this wintry mix is much more annoying – namely, very cold(probably sub-freezing) temperatures and various forms of precipitation. Yay? Driving here this morning, all the signs proclaimed: “ICE PREVENTION OPERATIONS AHEAD”. At least Houston is trying, am I right!? My one shoutout of the day goes to the woman I saw on her morning run as I drove to work. 5:45AM, 37 degrees and slight rain. And she still went on her run. I shake my head in admiration and shame – never am I that dedicated!!
But apart from the weather forecast, right now I’m enjoying my coffee here at work as I continue to wake up. Thankfully I’m less sleepy than I was yesterday! Totally slept through my alarm so had no time for breakfast or coffee…and why did I sleep in yesterday? Well, the night before that was Julian and Kelsey’s wedding – and oh what a gorgeous wedding it was!! I shan’t describe it all here…but their wedding was God glorifying – a simply beautiful ceremony of them affirming their marriage covenant to one another before God Himself. And I must briefly mention the beauty of the venue itself – outdoors surrounded by the mid-winter Texas countryside. As I stood by Julian’s side and gazed out at the setting sun, brisk air enlivening(and slightly shiver-inducing!) and fading light spirit invigorating…I had no thoughts but to thank God for blessing Julian and Kelsey so – for giving each of them to the other as partners in this beautiful, crazy, wonderful life. All praises to the One from whom all blessings flow. Amen.
What else can I write before it is work time? Well I suppose I should start on my pledge for this year. I typically enjoy reading very much(as you should know, if you know me at all), but I am very poor in recording what I’ve read. So I’ve decided this year to keep track of each book I read. Even re-reads(because yes, I do re-read quite a bit – and I don’t want to miss the chance to highlight good books, just because they’re not first reads). This is a slightly perilous resolution, for several reasons. Firstly, because I’m typically terrible at keeping on something like this, so I must be diligent at recording these, even if I have no time to write any fancy reviews. Secondly, because…this means my reading tastes will be exposed for the whole world to see – will be a good impetus to (try to) read quality books! For now though..here goes. I will record the books as I finish them, so here’s my first two, which coincidentally or not I completed last night.
1. Authority by D.M. Lloyd-Jones. This was a remarkably short book, less than 100 pages! But I much enjoyed this adaptation of several of Lloyd-Jones sermons he gave on the subject of authority, namely – the authority of Christ, the authority of the Scripture and the authority of the Holy Spirit. I much enjoyed this book(as I enjoy almost all of Lloyd-Jones’ writings!) and it encouraged my soul. Oh how we should more often remember that our faith does not come from within us and is not founded on the shifting sands of our moods or the ever changing tides of the wisdom of this world…but our faith is in Christ Himself, as revealed through the external witness of the Holy Scriptures and the internal witness of the Holy Spirit. Oh might we rejoice in this thought and take heart. Too easily do I get discouraged by my circumstances and by the trials and tribulations I find myself in. Let me more oft consider the God whose son I am.
2. Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. This is the complete antithesis of the previous book. Definitely not a short book – I don’t know the exact page count, but easily over 800 pages I would think. A classic high fantasy novel. Sanderson is truly one of my favorite authors and I think I own a higher percentage of his books than almost any other author. I’ve also met him a few times, which adds to my liking for him. His writing style is definitely not quite as beautiful as a Tolkien or a Rothfuss, but his world-building and action sequences are almost unparalleled. This book is the third book in his magnum opus Stormlight Archive series and so I shan’t attempt to summarize the plot here, but I much enjoyed this book and will be definitely revisiting it in later re-reads. I’m just sad I’ll have to wait a couple more years for the next book to come out…alas!
So there you have it – the first two books completed for 2018. Already begun another one, will record when finished!
Have a most lovely day, dear friends – may it be a day of joy and peace.
Consummation of the Ages
Good morning friends!! A blitz of a post here before I begin working! I’m sipping on my Friday peppermint mocha even though it’s not really Friday because…this is the last day of the work week for me! Fly off to Vancouver tomorrow for a weekend in Canada with Robbie, Ryan and friends! It’s going to be awesomeness, not least of which because I haven’t seen Robbie in a couple years now so really looking forward to catching up with him and having some quality chats(which we always always do). And of course – first time in Canada, so there’s that! I think we might also drop down to Seattle for a day, as well. So anyway, I’m in a pretty good mood now, looking forward to a sweet holiday time with friends. Shall be wonderful, I so decree!
And just as awesome as this coming weekend is going to be, last weekend was. Another super busy weekend, mostly because Mikaela came down from Dallas and spent the whole weekend in Houston and so naturally we spent very much time together(as is good and proper!). Went to Bethel on Friday night and heard John Piper speak on his new book A Peculiar Glory – about how the Word of God reveals its utter truthfulness to mankind. His talk was absolutely wonderful – he marries intellectual vigor and wisdom with the sweet passion that can only be granted by knowing God so closely and intimately. Oh how my eyes were lifted up to heaven as we pondered the glories of God!
Saturday night(after many fun adventures during the day, of course), me and Mikaela went on a double date with Earnie and Mandy to the symphony! After a quality dinner of steak and mashed potatoes at Truluck’s, we four enjoyed the Houston Symphony and Choir’s fine performance of Faure’s Requiem. Very very beautiful, indeed. And Sunday, following church, Mikaela and I had a most yummy Cajun-filled lunch at BB’s where I had my standard jalapeno mac’n’cheese and she ate many delicious looking crawfish. But…apart from the food and fun we enjoyed over the weekend, the best part was just being with Mikaela and talking with her and enjoying our time together…such sweet times indeed, may God be praised.
And now that I’ve written a bit more than I had planned, it is off to work with me. Be joyful this day, my friends – and think on the beauty of Jesus Christ our Lord. Peace, y’all – peace and love.
Melchizedek
I forgot how much I love reading Hebrews. I really did mean to post a proper entry today as I sip on my extra-chocolatey mocha, but alas, my time has run out and I need to start on work momentarily. And so I’ll just post a small portion of what encouraged me today…
For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former
commandment because of its weakness and uselessness(for
the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a
bringing in of a much better hope, through which we draw near to God.
And inasmuch as it was not without an oath(for they indeed
became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the
One who said to Him,
“The Lord has sworn
And will not change His mind,
‘You are a Priest forever'”);
so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a
better covenant.
The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater
numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,
but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever,
holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to
save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He
always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy,
innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the
heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to
offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the sins of
the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up
Himself.
For the Law appoints men as high priests who are
weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law,
appoints a Son, made perfect forever. – Hebrews 7:18-28
Peace and love, my friends – have a most wonderful Monday!
It is written
Quick thought while I’m making dinner.
Just reading Matthew 21…what does Jesus do as soon as he is acclaimed the King? Does he bask in the adulation of the crowds? No, he goes straight to the temple and drives the money-changers and merchants from the house of God,
“It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”
Tragic. Heartbreaking. The house of worship of the living God had been desecrated by the greed of men. And just makes me think of what Jesus would say of much of the ‘Christian’ world today. Are we so wrapped up in the world of Christianity that we forget we live in a world of fallen people? Are we more excited about momentary worldly gain than we are about being indwelt by the Holy Spirit? Are we satisfied more by the praise of our peers than by the praise of our God? Would we forget the words of Paul that Christ did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped? If Christ could so do, then how could we not lay aside our pride and be servants of all?
How could we place the temporal above the eternal?
How could we place the temporal pleasures of this world above the eternal souls of men?
How could we place the temporal riches of this world above the eternal Christ?
Worship the King.
Seven Pillars
The fear of the LORD is
the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of
the Holy One is understanding.
-Proverbs 9:10
If I could only always remember this!! There is a foolishness that masquerades as cleverness and there is a grave that masks itself with the ever sweeter perfume of piety and there is a well-paved path that leads to the gates of hell. And there is a wisdom that looks as folly and there is a grave that is empty and there is a little-trod path that leads to the presence of God Himself.
Oh, for the love of Jesus, who found us when we could not see! Oh for the love of Jesus, who knew us when we did not know Him! Oh for the love of Jesus, who saved us when we could not live! Oh for the love of Jesus, who lifted us when we could not move! Oh for the love of Jesus, who loved us when we could not love! Oh for the love of Jesus!!
