Tag: worship

A Framing of the Mind

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends…and happy Tuesday! I dare not write too much right now, as my eyes are sleepy – despite the coffee I’m currently gulping down! – and at some point I need to attempt to wake up by doing work. But at least a few words? I am still recovering from Sunday night…me and John had a small Oscars-watching party at our place, a fun time with a few friends(Joe, Julie, Abby, Camille, Julia…) but of course the only problem with the Oscars is it’s approximately a four hour show. Eventually everyone left or (in John’s case) just went to bed, but Julie and I persevered to the bitter end! Worth it to see Moonlight‘s best picture win…of course, I’ve not seen that movie – looks a bit depressing for my taste. Maybe someday. Emma Stone did win best actress for La La Land, so all is well! Anyways! Sunday was a late night. I really need to get more sleep. Not tonight, since it’s community group night. Not tomorrow night, since I’m hanging with Sammy. Oh well. Maybe someday my poor body will get sleep.

Anything else? Hm, I guess I’ve just been pondering thoughts lately of life, the universe and everything. You know, the usual! And just the realisation that people(myself included!) are far too consumed by thoughts of how to please and love ourselves to the exclusion of all else. Yes, we say we love others. But words are cheap. Our actions are dictated far too often by the desire to please the god of ourselves. That sacred throne of rank pride – how we do love that seat. And at the end of the day – at the end of all things – does it really matter how much we’ve sacrificed to bring oblations to our own soul? God forbid that we should live so. I so much want to not be so concerned about my own vanity or cravings or heartache… Fierce and most loathsome ambition to raise myself above all else, why is this part of me? I flee. I am on this world for a purpose far greater, a cause far purer. May I remember that and forget myself.

Peace and love.

Prayers Ascending

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends – and happy Tuesday! I’m going to be starting work in a few minutes, just wanted to briefly chronicle some events of last night – very insignificant to the world at large, but precious to me. Last night, was driving to get dinner with Julie and as I was speeding up down the onramp to I-10, looked up at the sky and was almost overwhelmed by the cacophony of light and beauty shining forth from the sky. Yesterday, it rained and drizzled most of the day, but just as I was driving to dinner, the sky had begun to clear – and so shone forth the sun amidst a riot of towering purple clouds and smooth-streaked grey wisps and dazzling orange shaded fluffy cloud banks…I was so startled by the sight of the sky filled with such a varied and most gorgeous array of clouds and colours and swift shining lights that I had to ease up on my accelerating foot and tell myself to tear my eyes away from the sky. And as I relished the sun setting beauty that confronted me, I realized the gift I had been given to me by my God – a sight of awe and wonder and gorgeous delight. Oh and I suppose this entry is a bit self-indulgent…apologies! But was the rest of my night just as wondrous? Actually, it so happened it was. Dinner with Julie at Dish Society and as always it was wonderful and just what I needed. We enjoyed our food and chat and I was so encouraged by her(and maybe I encouraged her a little too? I hope so). Oh how dear of a friend is she. How marvelous it is to have such a deep bond with someone, a bond forged in the Spirit of God and of our love for Him. We finished the evening and I was able to pray for her and as I prayed, felt simply overwhelmed by the love of God for us, His humble and insignificant children. He loves us.

Chainless

James HoganLeave a comment

Early I wake and slowly stumble out the door,
weary feet on battered pavement,
– sadly not batter for pancakes,
too early –
but what is that to me? I look up
with joy, almost hesitating – and see
the half moon shining brilliantly in the sky,
a witness towering in heavens far
to God who placed it there.
My heart is not worthy of such joy –
pain is far more apropos –
but worthiness is not why I rise each morn,
Abba Father
near to me
I cry.

A Blinding Jewel of Light and Beauty

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends!! Monday here and it is furiously raining outside. And I am inside. And it is glorious. Finally, my habit of coming in super early pays off…so everyone else is going to be dripping wet, but because I came in before it started raining, I am nice and dry. Fantastic. Oh and I also have my peppermint mocha, so that’s great too! Had fun chatting with the baristas at Starbucks while I waited for mine this morning…I do love getting to know my Starbucks people – grateful I’m able to make friends with them. I’ve just got off the phone with Dad – had a good chat too, recapping the football from yesterday(Packers beat the Cowboys in a thrilling game, then the Steelers kicked many(six) field goals to beat the Chiefs…now four teams left – Patriots, Steelers, Falcons & Packers. I…don’t really care who wins? I’ll probably root for Atlanta, just because they’re the one team that hasn’t won a Super Bowl recently. Ever? Just looked it up, and they have never won! So I’m definitely rooting for Atlanta now. Go Falcons!).

Football sidebar aside, this weekend has been glorious. Saturday was a crazy day of superb busyness but yesterday was a wonderful day of worship and rest. Oh how I enjoyed my time at church in the morning, hearing God’s word preached. And then after church, went home and had leftover salad for lunch while watching an episode of 24 with John. Eventually, after doing some laundry and workout…had a most beautiful time of quietude and reading. Had a cuppa tea while reading B.B. Warfield’s Faith and Life. Beautiful reflections upon the gospel – reminding me why I live and why I love. Such special meditation time.

And now friends, I must be off…but have a most beautiful Monday, thinking on the wonders and love of Christ Jesus our Lord.

The River and the Tree

James HoganLeave a comment

“I, Jesus,
have sent my angel to testify to you
these things for the churches.
I am the root
and the descendant of David,
the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the bride say,
“Come.”
And let the one who hears say,
“Come.”
And let the one who is
thirsty
come;
let the one who wishes
take the water of life
without cost.

What words. Amen and Amen. Come Lord Jesus Indeed, these words are faithful and true.

How good it is to know God. And one day – to see the face of the Lamb. One day. Some day.

DC Sleeps

James HoganLeave a comment

I simply love when I rediscover passages in Scripture full of beauty and truth and my heart is stirred to hope eternal. I walked in to work this morning thinking these thoughts. And the wind tousled my hair in cool alignment with the starlight softly tripping down to earth. And so my soul sang.

Someday I’d like to write my thoughts on this whole chapter, but for now, I shall simply chronicle what is in the Word. From Isaiah 25…

The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet
For all peoples on this mountain;
A banquet of aged wine,
Choice pieces with marrow,
And refined, aged wine.
And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples,
Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.
He will swallow up death for all time,
And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,
And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken.

Day of Peace

James HoganLeave a comment

So this morning as I was driving to work, I pondered the verses below:

How blessed is the man
Who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.

And as my thoughts whirled in my head, I especially was convicted by that middle section of verses. Do I truly meditate on the law of the Lord day and night? Oh that I did! My desire – as I hope is yours as well – is to abide in the Lord each and every moment. And if truly what I wish is to be close to the Lord as I walk through this life, am I daily dying to self and meditating on the truths of God? Not ever so much as I should be. Not near enough. So that is my prayer this day, that I continue to grow closer to my God as I ponder and meditate on the truths of His Word, the truths that reveal God Himself. May my love ever increase – this is my prayer! A shabby, shattered piece of pottery am I – yet the Potter King makes me new. May I dwell on the words of God ever more. May my spirit be renewed day by day as I seek the face of Christ. Amen and Amen.

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

James HoganLeave a comment

Enjoying my chicken parm leftovers and a fresh tomato salad this lovely Sunday afternoon. And I shan’t write more than a couple sentences here – need to get back to my dinner and football(Giants v Packers playoff game), of course! But just wanted to take this chance to say how wonderful today has been. A day in which I was able to worship God with all my heart as I stood amongst my fellow brothers and sisters in church this morning. What a wondrous thing it is to be loved by God. What a beautiful thing it is to be known by God. We are blessed e’er so much, my dear friends.

Night Songs

James HoganLeave a comment

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and might and honour
and glory and blessing.

To Him who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb,
be blessing
and honour
and glory
and dominion
forever and ever.

Amen.

Breakfast on the Beach

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends and happy Monday!! …apparently I only write on Mondays anymore? I noticed that my last entry was also on a Monday. Ah well, eventually I’ll write a proper length entry and it shall be glorious but…it is not this day. This weekend was a most beautiful weekend…Daniel was in town and so as is proper, we spent oh so much time together. Oh how good it was to see him again!! We’ve had amazing conversations and wonderful times just hanging out. And I am sad that when I return today, he will be gone(he was sleeping on the couch when I left this morning for work…I couldn’t resist and had to wake him up to say goodbye one last time!). Anyways, he is a most dear friend and brother and I shall miss him dearly when he is gone. Again.

Now though, no time to write more. I must be off. Have a beautiful morning, my friends – look to the sky and see the beauty that surrounds you…and note that the Lord our God is the one who made it all. Ponder the lovingkindness of the Lord. Are we not blessed? Amazing love, how can it be – that Thou my God shouldst die for me.