Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Hebrews 4:15-16
15For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Isaiah 66:2
"For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD
"But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word."
16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Isaiah 66:2
"For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD
"But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word."
The Power of Being Weak by Mary Southerland
"We were created by God, according to His plan, in love and with purpose, weaknesses and all. "God in heaven appoints each person's work" (John 3:27 NLT). We tend to view our weaknesses as liabilities. However, since our worth doesn't depend upon us in any way, we can and must be honest about our weaknesses, knowing they don't diminish our value in the heart and mind of God but can, in fact, become the areas through which He does His greatest work. Instead, we try to ignore weaknesses, hoping no one will notice. We live in denial, assigning blame to others when we fail. Eventually, we attempt to bury our weaknesses only to find them resurrecting themselves when we least expect it. A powerful life embraces pain, brokenness and weakness and understands that perfection is for Heaven, not Earth. The words of Paul are profound,"God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV)...
When we are honest about our weaknesses, we are conceding the fact that only God can accomplish anything good in or through us. God's power is instantly recognizable in obvious weakness. Just like God was with the flawed Gideon, He is with us. "God has promised, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV). "
Father, I have to confess that I tend to depend on my strengths while trying to hide my weaknesses. Please help me to be real and honest when it comes to who I am in You. Help me celebrate the weaknesses that keep me on my face before You and in total dependence upon Your strength and power. Without You, I am nothing, Lord. But with You, anything is possible.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
My amazing (literally) friend Kelley showed me this song today. Listen to "The Cure for Pain" and "Your Love is Strong" here.
When we are honest about our weaknesses, we are conceding the fact that only God can accomplish anything good in or through us. God's power is instantly recognizable in obvious weakness. Just like God was with the flawed Gideon, He is with us. "God has promised, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV). "
Father, I have to confess that I tend to depend on my strengths while trying to hide my weaknesses. Please help me to be real and honest when it comes to who I am in You. Help me celebrate the weaknesses that keep me on my face before You and in total dependence upon Your strength and power. Without You, I am nothing, Lord. But with You, anything is possible.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
My amazing (literally) friend Kelley showed me this song today. Listen to "The Cure for Pain" and "Your Love is Strong" here.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Sooo excited for Friday!
"For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." -Romans 12:3
Reality's college group, Adorn, is blessed with an amazing pastor who will (hopefully) be speaking on this verse on Friday at 7:00pm at Reality Carpinteria. Come one, come all! Get directions here.
The 1828 Webster Dictionary defines "SOUND" as:
1. Founded in truth; firm; strong; valid; solid; that cannot be overthrown or refuted; as sound reasoning; a sound argument; a sound objection; sound doctrine; sound principles.
2. Undecayed; whole; perfect, or not defective; as sound fruit; a sound apple or melon.
3. Whole; entire; unhurt; unmutilated; as a sound body.
4. Right; correct; well founded; free from error; orthodox. II Tim 1. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes. Ps. 119.
5. Perfect, as intellect; not broken or defective; not enfeebled by age or accident; not wild or wandering; not deranged; as a sound mind; a sound understanding or reason.
See faith defined here.
Monday, March 8, 2010
C.S. Lewis, Forgiveness of Sins
Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matthew 18:35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
A great deal of our anxiety to make excuses comes from not really believing in it, from thinking that God will not take us to Himself again unless He is satisfied that some sort of case can be made out in our favor.
But that is not forgiveness at all.
Real forgiveness means looking steadily at the sin,
the sin that is left over
without any excuse,
after all allowances have been made,
and
seeing it in all its horror, dirt, meanness and malice,
and nevertheless
being wholly reconciled to the man who has done it."
Matthew 18:35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
A great deal of our anxiety to make excuses comes from not really believing in it, from thinking that God will not take us to Himself again unless He is satisfied that some sort of case can be made out in our favor.
But that is not forgiveness at all.
Real forgiveness means looking steadily at the sin,
the sin that is left over
without any excuse,
after all allowances have been made,
and
seeing it in all its horror, dirt, meanness and malice,
and nevertheless
being wholly reconciled to the man who has done it."
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Psalm 103
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
The LORD performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He Himself knows what we are made of;
He is mindful that we are but dust.
As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.
The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word!
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
The LORD performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He Himself knows what we are made of;
He is mindful that we are but dust.
As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.
The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word!
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
His Sublime Keeping
"The disposition...to leave the dearest objects of our hearts in the *sublime keeping of the general and unspecific belief that God is now answering our prayers in His own time and way, and in the best manner, involves a present process of inward crucifixion which is obviously unfavorable to the growth and even the existence of the life of self."
T.C. Upham's Inward Divine Guidance
*SUBLI'ME, a. [L. sublimis.]
1. Elevated by joy; as sublime with expectation
2. High in excellence; exalted by nature; elevated
3. High in place; exalted aloft
T.C. Upham's Inward Divine Guidance
*SUBLI'ME, a. [L. sublimis.]
1. Elevated by joy; as sublime with expectation
2. High in excellence; exalted by nature; elevated
3. High in place; exalted aloft
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Nehemiah
"NEHEMIAH was earnest in his prayer for the good of his sorrow-stricken nation, but he did not make the mistake of thinking that he was the only praying man in the world. He said, “Be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name.”... When he had presented his own personal supplication, he felt certain, that there were others who were also praying to the Lord... Do not you, my brother, claim to be the solitary prophet of God, and say, “I only am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” There are quite as good men as you are elsewhere in the world, and there are other people who are as earnest in prayer as you are. If you get supposing that you are the only man left who holds sound doctrine, you will become a bigot (intolerant); and if you think that you are the only praying man on the earth, you will most likely prove to be self-righteous. If you fancy you are the only man who has a deep spiritual experience, probably you will be doing a great wrong to others of your Lord’s servants, and speaking evil of those whom he has accepted. It is better far to believe, with Nehemiah, that your suppliant voice is not a solitary one; but that there are many who, like yourself, cry day and night unto God.
I think it would be better to go even a little further, and to be1ieve that, if you are earnest, there are others who are still more earnest; and that, if you possess a deep-toned piety, there are some who have even more than you have; so, instead of separating yourself from your brethren and sisters in Christ, as though you stood first and foremost, hope and believe that you are only one small star in a great constellation, one tiny speck in the milky way of divine light with which God still studs the evening sky of this world’s history. Take a hopeful view of things, and you will be more likely to be near the mark than if you judge others severely, and imagine yourself to be the only faithful servant of the Lord."
Excerpt from Spurgeon's commentary on Nehemiah 1:11
See the entire commentary here.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus".
(Phil 2:3-7)
I think it would be better to go even a little further, and to be1ieve that, if you are earnest, there are others who are still more earnest; and that, if you possess a deep-toned piety, there are some who have even more than you have; so, instead of separating yourself from your brethren and sisters in Christ, as though you stood first and foremost, hope and believe that you are only one small star in a great constellation, one tiny speck in the milky way of divine light with which God still studs the evening sky of this world’s history. Take a hopeful view of things, and you will be more likely to be near the mark than if you judge others severely, and imagine yourself to be the only faithful servant of the Lord."
Excerpt from Spurgeon's commentary on Nehemiah 1:11
See the entire commentary here.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus".
(Phil 2:3-7)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
thanks woman at the well
"If He who in Himself can lack nothing, chooses to need us, it is because we need to be needed."
C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis
things I know but need to be reminded of...
My close friend Kelley reminded me of this great lyric from Cademon's call:
"But You created nothing that gives me
more pleasure than You
And You won't give me something that gives me more pleasure than You ."
"I discovered an astonishing truth: God is attracted to weakness. He can't resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need Him. Our weakness, in fact, makes room for his power."
- "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" by Jim Cymbala
Monday, March 1, 2010
walking in the light
"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. We know that we have come to know him if we obey His commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." (1 John 1:5-10, 2:1-2)
"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Psalm 103:1-5).
"Take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:18-19, MSG).
Friday, February 26, 2010
The Essence of Christianity by John Piper
The essence of Christianity is that God is the supreme value in the universe, that we do not honor him as supremely valuable, that we are therefore guilty of sin and under his omnipotent wrath, and he alone can rescue us from his own condemnation, which he has done through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, for everyone who is in Christ. Knowing this, if what we promote is housing, jobs, health care, sobriety, family life minus this message, we are not Christian - we are cruel. We comb man's hair in the electric chair and hide his freedom in our hands.
Romans 1-7 lays it all out. I tried to sum it up last week: holy God, sinful man, coming wrath, perfect Savior, Jesus Christ crucified and risen, justification by faith, sanctification by faith. And now Paul sums up the message of Christianity in the great conclusion of Romans 8:1, "Therefore - in view of all that - there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." That's the essence of Christianity. That's the central, foundational message of God to the world. This is what we announce. This is what we plead. This is what we lay down our lives to communicate to the nations and the neighborhoods: No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
look at the whole article here.
How different would things be if every Christian knew this truth to the very core of their being and did exactly what John talks about in the last sentences? Do we, as Christians know this truth to our very core? Does Romans 8:1 resonate in our minds with thanksgiving and praise? If so, that alone is a work of God.
Romans 1-7 lays it all out. I tried to sum it up last week: holy God, sinful man, coming wrath, perfect Savior, Jesus Christ crucified and risen, justification by faith, sanctification by faith. And now Paul sums up the message of Christianity in the great conclusion of Romans 8:1, "Therefore - in view of all that - there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." That's the essence of Christianity. That's the central, foundational message of God to the world. This is what we announce. This is what we plead. This is what we lay down our lives to communicate to the nations and the neighborhoods: No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
look at the whole article here.
How different would things be if every Christian knew this truth to the very core of their being and did exactly what John talks about in the last sentences? Do we, as Christians know this truth to our very core? Does Romans 8:1 resonate in our minds with thanksgiving and praise? If so, that alone is a work of God.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
can't wait for summer!
some of the many things I like about summer:
1. salty skin and hair
2. little kids running away from the waves
3. kids jumping into waves
4. underwater handstands
5. everyone in a generally happy disposition
6. freedom, at least in high school and college
7. bright colored flowers
8. sun
9. picnics
10. beach volleyball
joy
"You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,because he trusts in you."
Isaiah 26:3
Monday, February 22, 2010
yes! (for every woman)
Emily Balli (a woman at Reality) shared this last Saturday and I wanted to spread the word:
Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone.
To have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively.
But God to the Christian says, "No, not until you're satisfied and fulfilled and content with living, being loved by Me alone and giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me, to have an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone. I love you, My child, and until you discover that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with Me - exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires and belongings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to bring it to you.You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must wait.
Don't be anxious, don't worry. Don't look around at the things you think you want. Just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I have to show you. And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would have dreamed.
You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, I am working this minute to have both of you ready at the same time, And until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I've prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with me, and this perfect love.
And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love.
I want you to see in the flesh the picture of your relationship with Me,
and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union
of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.
Know I love you. I am God Almighty, believe and be satisfied."
Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone.
To have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively.
But God to the Christian says, "No, not until you're satisfied and fulfilled and content with living, being loved by Me alone and giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me, to have an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone. I love you, My child, and until you discover that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with Me - exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires and belongings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to bring it to you.You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must wait.
Don't be anxious, don't worry. Don't look around at the things you think you want. Just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I have to show you. And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would have dreamed.
You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, I am working this minute to have both of you ready at the same time, And until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I've prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with me, and this perfect love.
And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love.
I want you to see in the flesh the picture of your relationship with Me,
and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union
of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.
Know I love you. I am God Almighty, believe and be satisfied."
work it girrrrl
I like this. If only I had more time to paint...hmmm.
to do: paint something similar to this style.
woohoo
"Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name."
(Psalm 100: 3-4)
power
"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." (Ephesians 1:17-23)
Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14)
Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
(Psalm 40:5)
Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14)
Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
(Psalm 40:5)
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