10/27/11
Read the Red
I was just reading my bible and realized that the red print is what Jesus said. I have always known that, but it just clicked for some reason. My Lord, My Savior, My Jesus actually said that. Those words came from His lungs, out of His vocal chords, out of His mouth a very long time ago. I love that. I loveee that! Simple revelation.
It is going to be okay!
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish. Jeremiah 31:24
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content, I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound, In every and any circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, and abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise. Psalm 51:17
Come unto me, ye who are weary and overburdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11.28
Seek God and His Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6.33
He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish. Jeremiah 31:24
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content, I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound, In every and any circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, and abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise. Psalm 51:17
Come unto me, ye who are weary and overburdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11.28
Seek God and His Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6.33
8/5/11
Doubt
I read this article today and I feel compelled to share it with all of you... maybe because it was very well written and a good read, or maybe because I feel like I can relate and I think some of you might be able to as well. It was an article in Time Magazine from 2007, titled "Mother Teresa's Crisis of Faith". I'm not one for plagiarism so everything I quote from the article will be in quotation marks and I will post the link to the online article at the end.
This article talks about how "doubt is a natural part of everyone's life, be it an average believer's or a world-famous saint's". It talks about the doubt that Mother Teresa faced over periods of her life. She wrote many letters to her spiritual confidants confessing how she truly felt. She says in one of her letters, addressed to Rev. Michael van der Peet, "Jesus has a very special love for you, But as for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great, that I look and do not see, Listen and do not hear, the tounge moves in prayer but does not speak." Is this surprising to you? It was to me, "that one of the great human icons of the past 100 years, whose remarkable deeds seemed inextricably connected to her closeness to God... was living out a very different spiritual reality". It's crazy to think that Mother Teresa herself struggled with doubt and faith, feeling God's presence and understanding purpose. I feel like this is something I struggle with myself, but as I continued to read, I realize I am not the only one. "In more than 40 communications, many of which never before been published, she bemoans the dryness, darkness, loneliness and torture she is undergoing. She compares the experience to hell and at one point says it has driven her to doubt the existence of heaven and even of God."
But the article goes on to say that "Teresa's inability to perceive Christ in her life did not mean he wasn't there." and "Theresa found ways, starting in the early 1960's to live with it and abandoned neither her belief nor her work", this is encouraging to me. This is a real person, with real struggles, who did really great things amoungst the doubt that she faced. Powerful hey?
Why though? Isn't it curious "that absence seems to have started at almost precisely the time she began tending the poor and dying in Calcutta"? Why is there so much opposition? I wonder... Food for thought. "Mother Theresa knew what she was doing made sense" and she wasn't going to let up. But "she had not anticipated that she might recapitulate the particular moment on the cross when Jesus asks, 'My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?' His felt absence might be the ordeal she had prayed for, that her perseverance in its face might echo his faith unto death on the cross, that it might indeed be a grace, enhancing the efficacy of her calling, made sense of her pain."
I will end on one of my most favorite quotes from the article and a question. Mother Theresa felt in her heart that Jesus was saying to her; "You are I know the most incapable person - week and sinful but just because you are that - I want to use you for My glory. Wilt thou refuse?"
Will you refuse? Will I?
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1655720,00.html
This article talks about how "doubt is a natural part of everyone's life, be it an average believer's or a world-famous saint's". It talks about the doubt that Mother Teresa faced over periods of her life. She wrote many letters to her spiritual confidants confessing how she truly felt. She says in one of her letters, addressed to Rev. Michael van der Peet, "Jesus has a very special love for you, But as for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great, that I look and do not see, Listen and do not hear, the tounge moves in prayer but does not speak." Is this surprising to you? It was to me, "that one of the great human icons of the past 100 years, whose remarkable deeds seemed inextricably connected to her closeness to God... was living out a very different spiritual reality". It's crazy to think that Mother Teresa herself struggled with doubt and faith, feeling God's presence and understanding purpose. I feel like this is something I struggle with myself, but as I continued to read, I realize I am not the only one. "In more than 40 communications, many of which never before been published, she bemoans the dryness, darkness, loneliness and torture she is undergoing. She compares the experience to hell and at one point says it has driven her to doubt the existence of heaven and even of God."
But the article goes on to say that "Teresa's inability to perceive Christ in her life did not mean he wasn't there." and "Theresa found ways, starting in the early 1960's to live with it and abandoned neither her belief nor her work", this is encouraging to me. This is a real person, with real struggles, who did really great things amoungst the doubt that she faced. Powerful hey?
Why though? Isn't it curious "that absence seems to have started at almost precisely the time she began tending the poor and dying in Calcutta"? Why is there so much opposition? I wonder... Food for thought. "Mother Theresa knew what she was doing made sense" and she wasn't going to let up. But "she had not anticipated that she might recapitulate the particular moment on the cross when Jesus asks, 'My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?' His felt absence might be the ordeal she had prayed for, that her perseverance in its face might echo his faith unto death on the cross, that it might indeed be a grace, enhancing the efficacy of her calling, made sense of her pain."
I will end on one of my most favorite quotes from the article and a question. Mother Theresa felt in her heart that Jesus was saying to her; "You are I know the most incapable person - week and sinful but just because you are that - I want to use you for My glory. Wilt thou refuse?"
Will you refuse? Will I?
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1655720,00.html
7/24/11
Spiritual Warfare
After a conversation with a good friend, I have come to think about this off and on all day. Spiritual warfare. How is it different in Canada than it is in other parts of the world? I have been to places where the spiritual world is more visible to the human eye. Where the forces of darkness and light fight in such an obvious way that you can’t deny it. Why is it not like that here in Canada I was wondering. But you see, it’s not as visible here… unless you are looking for it. It got me really starting to analyze what kind of spiritual war is going on here. There is such a battle here. A battle for souls, just like every other country. The enemy has Canada right where he wants it. The rich getting richer, the poor getting neglected, the idols we have made consume us; material things exhaled above the Creator. Sin becoming so apart of our lives that it has become normal or the thing to do. We are so spiritually deaf. But… but. But Jesus is breaking our ears open. He is smashing those idols to pieces. He is reigning over the rich and the poor. He is King here. And He is King there. He has the enemy in his grip and he will be defeated. I can’t keep living thinking that this is not a war. Why would I not prepare myself? I need to stop goofing around. I need to put on the armour of God. I need his Word to guide me, I need his love to correct me, I need his spirit to teach me, I need his grace to encourage me, I need his fear to keep me on track. If this is a war… it’s going to be messy… but I know in the end who is going to be victorious. King Jesus.
7/17/11
Fellowship of the Unashamed
"I am a part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.
I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear.
I won't give up, back up , let up or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up and paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.
I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ."
I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.
I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear.
I won't give up, back up , let up or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up and paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.
I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ."
Call me out of mediocrity.
I've been thinking about this for the past few days. I've been thinking about the cross. It's not a small thing. I can't look over it anymore.
I have this image in my head. Every time I sin, I'm the one hammering the nails into Jesus' hands. I love him so much and yet I continue to everyday drive the nails into that cross. I just see myself crying, weeping as I am the one who put those holes in his hands. I'm the one who made him bleed. Jesus forgive me. It was my sin that held you there. It should have been me on that cross. I am just so humbled thinking about this. I don't want to sin because I love Him so much and I just can't handle it anymore. Its no longer about a set of rules I have to follow, its turned into a deep intimacy that compels me to never want to hurt my King again. Because I love Him so. So much. and yet, nothing compared to how He loves me.
Sin is when we substitute God for us. But Salvation is when Jesus substituted us for Him.
I have this image in my head. Every time I sin, I'm the one hammering the nails into Jesus' hands. I love him so much and yet I continue to everyday drive the nails into that cross. I just see myself crying, weeping as I am the one who put those holes in his hands. I'm the one who made him bleed. Jesus forgive me. It was my sin that held you there. It should have been me on that cross. I am just so humbled thinking about this. I don't want to sin because I love Him so much and I just can't handle it anymore. Its no longer about a set of rules I have to follow, its turned into a deep intimacy that compels me to never want to hurt my King again. Because I love Him so. So much. and yet, nothing compared to how He loves me.
Sin is when we substitute God for us. But Salvation is when Jesus substituted us for Him.
Awe
"The earth is the Lord's and everything in it" Psalm 24:1
"The earth is filled with the Lord's glory." Habakkuk 2:14
"Shout joyfully to God...How awesome are your works." Psalm 66:1,3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)