Then mark how safe a Comforter the Holy [Spirit] is. All comfort is not safe; mark that. ~ Charles Spurgeon, Vol One
We all like to think that we are adept comforters. Oh, I saw this person in mourning over this or that, and I said this or that! They felt much better!
Perhaps they did. And perhaps they did not. We also hold the fatal mistake of being able to make a distressed person feel infinitely worse about their condition of struggle. We, being our own little godlets, see the world only through our eyes. Therefore, when we say a "comforting" word to someone, however well-meaning, we say it through seeing someone else's world with our own eyes.
This is not to say that we are not able to ever say anything comforting---I have had many people say things that meant the world to me and indeed lifted my spirits. I have had the alternate effect as well; what someone said or did devastated me.
Still, we should go about comforting others...it is a way of loving others. We must guard ourselves against doing so pridefully; to ensure not becoming the "official church comforter" of our particular body, Sunday school, what-have-you. Being prideful on one's ability to soothe makes one blind to seeing the hurt the other person is feeling.
When we ourselves need comfort, we feel this deep hole; a deep, aching hole, nearly like a heart-break from a relationship that has fallen apart---even if that is not the cause of our distress. I think that likely this is because, in a manner of speaking, we are feeling a large hole.
Distressing things are massively multiplied when we have allowed our minds to wander. When I was lonely as a preteen because there were few friends who would come visit/invite me to visit (albeit I was a sad playmate with my already heat-intolerant, nauseated self), the loneliness grew exponentially if I was not focused on God. At that point in my life the best way I could focus on God was with worship music: I sang worship songs all day, listening to them as the day went by, as I attended to what chores and school work I had. If I did not do those things---singing constantly, playing the same worship tapes over and over---I sank lower into misery, crying because of loneliness.
If, however, I managed to remain focused on God, there came a point in which I did not care that I had no one to visit with. It simply did not matter. A small twinge might come up, much like the healing sprained ankle stepped upon wrongly, but there was no more swelling, no more bruising to be noted.
The Holy Spirit is a great comforter and counselor. Through Him we are able to be taught many things through the Word, and then also share those many things with others, as He opens others' ears and eyes to His wonders. His comfort is beyond all that we can honestly manage by our own efforts to soothe ourselves (drugs, alcohol, sex, even self-help books) or others' efforts (advice, etc). His comfort is a comfort that shows us gently (or firmly, depending) the errors we may have taken leading to this time of struggle, or in other times, His comfort is merely that of straight comfort....the comfort we find when calling to Him in the night, finding His peace, His strength, and His overwhelming love.
Rheumatoid Awareness
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Monday, March 28, 2016
Perfect Faith
When I am perfect in faith I shall be perfect in everything else: I should always fulfill the precept if I always believed the promise. But it is because my faith is weak, that I sin.
Vol One, Complete Works---Charles Spurgeon
It is an intriguing idea to consider that, could we retain enough faith, we would be able to not sin. It sounds like a logical, true idea. After all, it was by unbelief in God's words that we left the garden;we shunned His God-hood to make our own fatal godhood a reality.
We might contemplate some of the most faithful listed in the Scriptures---Enoch, of course, mentioned in Genesis, was taken from the Earth without even dying [Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Gen 5.24------By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. Heb 11.5 For different versions, click here]. Now, I assume that he sinned; perhaps not---Abraham was considered righteous by his faith, but there it is, listed in print, sins done. Even Moses, who again, was a faithful man, made errors. The walk of man is filled with large pot-holes of sin, which, like pigs, we stop to wallow in merrily.
On the other hand, the most Perfect of Beings had His perfect faith, faith which led Him, willingly, to become our great Savior---faith which made Him trust His Father's plan so entirely that sin's death-hold on our throats was forever wrenched away; that is, assuming we are willing to accept that great gift of His death for our sins and his Lordship over all. What great, astounding faith.
We like to walk this earth, stopping in the mud holes of sin as I mentioned before, and forget God's great plans. When trials and suffering hit, we panic much like any ant-hill dug at by a child. We run amok, shrieking in terror---yet forgetting that over all this stands One who is greater, One who knows what will happen; One that, if we will lean upon Him, will guide us on an easier route. We may still have the "child" digging at out little ant-hill home, but we have the guiding hands on the Creator of all.
Our lives here are notoriously short; written in the Scripture as "grass which withers away". After this time, we leave this broken world to stand forever in the fullness of Him. To sing praises neverending, to receive white robes and crowns...and best of all, every tear wiped dry. So for a little while we face trials of many kinds, but how we can honor Him in it, and how He will lead us if we are willing to be comforted by Him.
Vol One, Complete Works---Charles Spurgeon
It is an intriguing idea to consider that, could we retain enough faith, we would be able to not sin. It sounds like a logical, true idea. After all, it was by unbelief in God's words that we left the garden;we shunned His God-hood to make our own fatal godhood a reality.
We might contemplate some of the most faithful listed in the Scriptures---Enoch, of course, mentioned in Genesis, was taken from the Earth without even dying [Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Gen 5.24------By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. Heb 11.5 For different versions, click here]. Now, I assume that he sinned; perhaps not---Abraham was considered righteous by his faith, but there it is, listed in print, sins done. Even Moses, who again, was a faithful man, made errors. The walk of man is filled with large pot-holes of sin, which, like pigs, we stop to wallow in merrily.
On the other hand, the most Perfect of Beings had His perfect faith, faith which led Him, willingly, to become our great Savior---faith which made Him trust His Father's plan so entirely that sin's death-hold on our throats was forever wrenched away; that is, assuming we are willing to accept that great gift of His death for our sins and his Lordship over all. What great, astounding faith.
We like to walk this earth, stopping in the mud holes of sin as I mentioned before, and forget God's great plans. When trials and suffering hit, we panic much like any ant-hill dug at by a child. We run amok, shrieking in terror---yet forgetting that over all this stands One who is greater, One who knows what will happen; One that, if we will lean upon Him, will guide us on an easier route. We may still have the "child" digging at out little ant-hill home, but we have the guiding hands on the Creator of all.
Our lives here are notoriously short; written in the Scripture as "grass which withers away". After this time, we leave this broken world to stand forever in the fullness of Him. To sing praises neverending, to receive white robes and crowns...and best of all, every tear wiped dry. So for a little while we face trials of many kinds, but how we can honor Him in it, and how He will lead us if we are willing to be comforted by Him.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Remember Me
...I am sure they will understand me when I say, come and do this in remembrance of Christ----in remembrance of all his loving visitations [to you], of His sweet wooing words, of His winning smiles upon you, of all He has said and communicated to your souls.
Complete Vol 1, Charles Spurgeon
What astounding words Spurgeon penned in considering remembering Christ---with and without the act of Communion. That we should be so disgustingly forgetful of Christ in most of our daily lives is, indeed, revolting.
Consider at the moment the times when Christ was with you when you "most" needed it (incredible as it may seem, that most needed time is a constant, but that constant is often lost in our little world). Those times stand out as blinding points on a map of our lives.
Think on those moments when in the Word, in prayer or in discussion of Him that a flash of understanding came upon you---suddenly you understood something that before you had not; a new comfort has come over you as you realize you needn't worry or fear, or perhaps a sudden flash of how strong His love really, truly is for you.
Consider the conduct He had toward the children in the Word, how delighted He was that they were there about Him. I imagine, as the Word says we are to come to Him as little children, the smiles of delight He must have when we, His creation, realize our need to worship and come before Him. The chance to gather us up, under His wings, and shower us with His great love.
I recall now the many times He has visited me, helped me through life-trials that would have left me utterly destroyed; perhaps to the death. I can see so many times, some small, some great, of His assistance in my life.
In my anorexia-bulimia, I see Him helping me with each and every mouth full those months of fighting. In my anxiety (or pain then?) I see Him yoked with me, making light my heavy---oh so heavy---load. Now, in this hardest trial yet of chronic pain and just sick , I see Him surrounding me with His love, joy, strength and peace....I see His eyes water as mine cry out in misery, feeling my pain as strongly as I do. I see Him reaching out to hold me in His strong arms, and to wipe the tears that stream down my face when the pain, the nausea, the idea of facing this life-long illness, overwhelms me. I see Him in His great glory and honor and majesty---as indescribable as what John saw in Revelation...
How loving He is, considering how often we "forget" He is here and with us. We are so fortunate that we can "remember" Him, call to Him in the night, in the morning, in the noon, in the afternoon and evening-----and HE will indeed HEAR us. If we are at the most alone moment in our lives, we can realize that we are not alone, He is there, waiting to be yoked to us, to lighten the load. We were never meant to bear these loads...which is why the Creator of all will help us bear them, lightening them to the point we can stand them.
Complete Vol 1, Charles Spurgeon
What astounding words Spurgeon penned in considering remembering Christ---with and without the act of Communion. That we should be so disgustingly forgetful of Christ in most of our daily lives is, indeed, revolting.
Consider at the moment the times when Christ was with you when you "most" needed it (incredible as it may seem, that most needed time is a constant, but that constant is often lost in our little world). Those times stand out as blinding points on a map of our lives.
Think on those moments when in the Word, in prayer or in discussion of Him that a flash of understanding came upon you---suddenly you understood something that before you had not; a new comfort has come over you as you realize you needn't worry or fear, or perhaps a sudden flash of how strong His love really, truly is for you.
Consider the conduct He had toward the children in the Word, how delighted He was that they were there about Him. I imagine, as the Word says we are to come to Him as little children, the smiles of delight He must have when we, His creation, realize our need to worship and come before Him. The chance to gather us up, under His wings, and shower us with His great love.
I recall now the many times He has visited me, helped me through life-trials that would have left me utterly destroyed; perhaps to the death. I can see so many times, some small, some great, of His assistance in my life.
In my anorexia-bulimia, I see Him helping me with each and every mouth full those months of fighting. In my anxiety (or pain then?) I see Him yoked with me, making light my heavy---oh so heavy---load. Now, in this hardest trial yet of chronic pain and just sick , I see Him surrounding me with His love, joy, strength and peace....I see His eyes water as mine cry out in misery, feeling my pain as strongly as I do. I see Him reaching out to hold me in His strong arms, and to wipe the tears that stream down my face when the pain, the nausea, the idea of facing this life-long illness, overwhelms me. I see Him in His great glory and honor and majesty---as indescribable as what John saw in Revelation...
How loving He is, considering how often we "forget" He is here and with us. We are so fortunate that we can "remember" Him, call to Him in the night, in the morning, in the noon, in the afternoon and evening-----and HE will indeed HEAR us. If we are at the most alone moment in our lives, we can realize that we are not alone, He is there, waiting to be yoked to us, to lighten the load. We were never meant to bear these loads...which is why the Creator of all will help us bear them, lightening them to the point we can stand them.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Complaints
Today, like many days, is a day that I find disheartening. The days when I sleep most of the time find me, when I awake, disgruntled and disturbed by attempting to figure out if it is night or day, disappointed with the thought of how long I may face my disease.
I am not suicidal. But I already, after only a little more than a year and a half, cannot clearly remember a time when my disease was less active. I know, now, that it was always there. I would hazard a guess that I had symptoms at the age of six---most assuredly by the age of ten, when my heat intolerance began in earnest. I look at what I was able to do with the sense of hearing about a different person entirely. Did I drive a car all about the county, all day? Surely not.... Oh, that is nice, I would do things like that...
I lay tonight, finally cooled by the touch of night against the tide of inflammation fever, considering all of this, and considering Paul. Paul, of course, faced his long list of near deaths and pain for the sake of Christ, but further considered his teachings and efforts with the addition of some ailment. At this point in my life, anyone who can continue on while in pain, emotional and or physical is indeed of good courage.
I thought too of how we say we cannot go on, whether it is because of illness, trauma of the heart, or just a bad day. I say, at times, I cannot go on to live with this amount of pain....and as I thought that, another thought flew into my head: we state often that we cannot continue some form of suffering. We rarely say we cannot continue some sort of sin. We just continue, like as not, to act in the same sinful manner. I can read the Law, which while impossible for any human to reach, I consider to be in action and something to obey to honor God. Therefore, as I read it, I squirm as sins come unspoken into my mind. It gives me the chance to apologize for them, but further to see how in need I am of a Saviour. Obviously, except in those cases of unknowing sin (which still, by the Law, was covered with a separate sacrifice----who knows what atrocities we have committed unknowingly), I may have chosen to continue on in sin.
I was reading in Numbers the other day. I enjoyed the command for the People to wear the blue tassels at the edges of garments. The purpose was to remember His commands, a constant reminder. I love that...a good reason to wear a cross, without its becoming some sort of thing to worship. A reminder to obey, to honor Him in all our actions. For me, wearing a cross was a way to just remember God anyway, and, in desperation, hold onto it with all my heart as if I could hold His great pierced hand.
Incredible, too...how determined we can be in sin. My distress over pain, the attitude I can have, is not always good. And I know from experience I can turn to God and find much relief but seemingly "forget".
We often say, "oh, but if God were right here, it would be no effort to deny sin. It would be easier to remember Him, call on Him." Lies. All lies.
The People were encamped with the Lord of Lords, the God of all as a fiery cloud IN SIGHT and still sinned. Even so far as complaining about God to Moses and Aaron. We need no space from God to sin. We can make that choice with Him in sight.
Thankfully, He is indeed loving and gracious. In my complaints, I know He forgives. I know He understands that pain, having taken on much more on the cross. I have found in all my life that the King is beyond description in all ways, but especially, for me, in His ways of comforting and loving----His continual willingness to provide strength and peace are but half a prayer away...
I am not suicidal. But I already, after only a little more than a year and a half, cannot clearly remember a time when my disease was less active. I know, now, that it was always there. I would hazard a guess that I had symptoms at the age of six---most assuredly by the age of ten, when my heat intolerance began in earnest. I look at what I was able to do with the sense of hearing about a different person entirely. Did I drive a car all about the county, all day? Surely not.... Oh, that is nice, I would do things like that...
I lay tonight, finally cooled by the touch of night against the tide of inflammation fever, considering all of this, and considering Paul. Paul, of course, faced his long list of near deaths and pain for the sake of Christ, but further considered his teachings and efforts with the addition of some ailment. At this point in my life, anyone who can continue on while in pain, emotional and or physical is indeed of good courage.
I thought too of how we say we cannot go on, whether it is because of illness, trauma of the heart, or just a bad day. I say, at times, I cannot go on to live with this amount of pain....and as I thought that, another thought flew into my head: we state often that we cannot continue some form of suffering. We rarely say we cannot continue some sort of sin. We just continue, like as not, to act in the same sinful manner. I can read the Law, which while impossible for any human to reach, I consider to be in action and something to obey to honor God. Therefore, as I read it, I squirm as sins come unspoken into my mind. It gives me the chance to apologize for them, but further to see how in need I am of a Saviour. Obviously, except in those cases of unknowing sin (which still, by the Law, was covered with a separate sacrifice----who knows what atrocities we have committed unknowingly), I may have chosen to continue on in sin.
I was reading in Numbers the other day. I enjoyed the command for the People to wear the blue tassels at the edges of garments. The purpose was to remember His commands, a constant reminder. I love that...a good reason to wear a cross, without its becoming some sort of thing to worship. A reminder to obey, to honor Him in all our actions. For me, wearing a cross was a way to just remember God anyway, and, in desperation, hold onto it with all my heart as if I could hold His great pierced hand.
Incredible, too...how determined we can be in sin. My distress over pain, the attitude I can have, is not always good. And I know from experience I can turn to God and find much relief but seemingly "forget".
We often say, "oh, but if God were right here, it would be no effort to deny sin. It would be easier to remember Him, call on Him." Lies. All lies.
The People were encamped with the Lord of Lords, the God of all as a fiery cloud IN SIGHT and still sinned. Even so far as complaining about God to Moses and Aaron. We need no space from God to sin. We can make that choice with Him in sight.
Thankfully, He is indeed loving and gracious. In my complaints, I know He forgives. I know He understands that pain, having taken on much more on the cross. I have found in all my life that the King is beyond description in all ways, but especially, for me, in His ways of comforting and loving----His continual willingness to provide strength and peace are but half a prayer away...
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Pity Party
Oh that we look at our own struggles and wonder how we live to the next breath. How we look at our own trials and are amazed that others do not see us staggering under its weight. How we look at our misery and dare not think something else will be added.
And yet we must consider "Why, 'the Man of Sorrows' was afflicted more than you; Jesus was indeed a mourner. You only see the skirts of the garments of affliction. You never have trials like His. You do not understand what troubles mean; you have hardly sipped the cup of trouble----you have only had a drop or two, but Jesus drank the dregs" (Charles Spurgeon, Complete Volume, Vol 1).
Our good and faithful Lord understands our trials better than any other human counterpart can. True--we can have good companionship and help each other through difficult times by speaking to those who have had similar trials. But Christ alone understands what is is like to be in the agony of pain, the constant "hatred" from 'cool' people, the sickness of the world and the sin of every being was placed on His shoulders as He strained for breath on the Cross. He had insults hurled at Him from the moment of His "sentence" by the Sanhedrin to His crucifixion, when men bet on His clothing. He was jeered at, spit on, beaten within an inch of His life. He was abandoned by His earthly family---considered insane. If anyone can understand the "least" trial we face, it is our Lord, our Shepherd.
Let us consider the classic Psalm 23:
And yet we must consider "Why, 'the Man of Sorrows' was afflicted more than you; Jesus was indeed a mourner. You only see the skirts of the garments of affliction. You never have trials like His. You do not understand what troubles mean; you have hardly sipped the cup of trouble----you have only had a drop or two, but Jesus drank the dregs" (Charles Spurgeon, Complete Volume, Vol 1).
Our good and faithful Lord understands our trials better than any other human counterpart can. True--we can have good companionship and help each other through difficult times by speaking to those who have had similar trials. But Christ alone understands what is is like to be in the agony of pain, the constant "hatred" from 'cool' people, the sickness of the world and the sin of every being was placed on His shoulders as He strained for breath on the Cross. He had insults hurled at Him from the moment of His "sentence" by the Sanhedrin to His crucifixion, when men bet on His clothing. He was jeered at, spit on, beaten within an inch of His life. He was abandoned by His earthly family---considered insane. If anyone can understand the "least" trial we face, it is our Lord, our Shepherd.
Let us consider the classic Psalm 23:
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a]I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
If we really read this passage---and not the cookie-cutter memorized version (as sometimes happens with well-known passages), it is incredibly helpful. We honestly lack nothing, regardless of our situation. It may be difficult---enough so that we may indeed be facing our last physical breaths. But He is with us, He is there counseling us, His love enveloping us as the rod and staff. We can still, in the midst of the worst of days have the option to "lie down in green pastures"; that is, we have the option to have peace, if we ask of Him for His peace. We are able to ask for strength and receive it, feel His Spirit fill us, refreshing our soul.
Compared to His suffering, what He faced before and on the cross, is much beyond our own sufferings. But, as a good Shepherd, He cares for and does not belittle our trials. He is willing to be yoked to us, to help us. We just have to be willing to let Him be God, and we His sheep.
Compared to His suffering, what He faced before and on the cross, is much beyond our own sufferings. But, as a good Shepherd, He cares for and does not belittle our trials. He is willing to be yoked to us, to help us. We just have to be willing to let Him be God, and we His sheep.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Terrible Things In Man
There are terrible things in man. There are some depths in human nature into which it is scarcely safe to look.---James Stalker, "The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ"
Do you ever examine yourself...and find that you have some really horrible qualities?
I am finding that I have a shorter and shorter temper. Talk too long, or repeat yourself, or say the wrong thing and I may just explode. I can feel myself practically beginning to boil----and then that boil stays just at the simmer stage, so that one wrong word or speech, one tapping finger, can turn up the flame under me.
It is a ridiculous, embarrassing thing. I hate it....and find often I have to leave so as not to lash out at people for no good reason.
Thank the Lord I can ask forgiveness, I have a High Priest at all times to intercede...as obviously my edgy temper is only one fault!
Reading the Old Testament is a great way to see the High Priest in action. While I don't really think Jesus throws Himself on the ground before God, the fact that the priests in the past did shows how important asking for pardon was.
Moses, who saw God face to face, even had to wear a veil as the radiance of his face was worrisome to the Israelites, fell before God many times. Aaron, the High Priest, often fell before God at the same time; both asking, pleading for forgiveness for the people's folly. Joshua and Caleb tore their robes, a sign of great distress during one such time---i believe the time that the People then walked the desert for 40 years.
Considering how this appears....makes me wonder with shame how MY High Priest, the King of Kings, feels when, yet again, I show the depths of the sin of man. I cannot comprehend that, nor that of the Lord Himself.
While we must strive, with the help of our good Shepherd, to do what He wishes....I am so thankful tonight that He will be my High Priest.
Do you ever examine yourself...and find that you have some really horrible qualities?
I am finding that I have a shorter and shorter temper. Talk too long, or repeat yourself, or say the wrong thing and I may just explode. I can feel myself practically beginning to boil----and then that boil stays just at the simmer stage, so that one wrong word or speech, one tapping finger, can turn up the flame under me.
It is a ridiculous, embarrassing thing. I hate it....and find often I have to leave so as not to lash out at people for no good reason.
Thank the Lord I can ask forgiveness, I have a High Priest at all times to intercede...as obviously my edgy temper is only one fault!
Reading the Old Testament is a great way to see the High Priest in action. While I don't really think Jesus throws Himself on the ground before God, the fact that the priests in the past did shows how important asking for pardon was.
Moses, who saw God face to face, even had to wear a veil as the radiance of his face was worrisome to the Israelites, fell before God many times. Aaron, the High Priest, often fell before God at the same time; both asking, pleading for forgiveness for the people's folly. Joshua and Caleb tore their robes, a sign of great distress during one such time---i believe the time that the People then walked the desert for 40 years.
Considering how this appears....makes me wonder with shame how MY High Priest, the King of Kings, feels when, yet again, I show the depths of the sin of man. I cannot comprehend that, nor that of the Lord Himself.
While we must strive, with the help of our good Shepherd, to do what He wishes....I am so thankful tonight that He will be my High Priest.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Hungry Coyote
I was very ill the other day when my husband and I went to visit his mom. I love his mom...so I was trying very hard to go anyway. Changed my pain patch five hours early in hopes of making a difference in the yuckiness I felt. Sadly, once we got there, I felt like I would throw up my shoes. the house, which sat at a solid 73 degree F was too hot for my system...I escaped to the car, reclining in the seat, door flung open to the misty rain and gently breeze. A cooling breeze is a blessing for me. During this time I had a few moments where I felt well enough to peruse the copy of Our Daily Bread that sits in cars for my father to read.
Then I found out about Nezahualcoyot. He was a Mexican ruler in the 15th century, before the Spanish hit the area. What is so astounding to me is...he apparently knew God.
Depending on the sources you read, he found that the idols about him were made of stone and had nothing in them. There had to be a real God our there, a God with no name. It was this God he worshiped, and built a pyramid for as well.
"He practiced his faith in a peaceful way; In lieu of human sacrifice, he offered incense and fasted. He built a temple and prohibited human sacrifice in his city after he had fasted and prayed for the victory Texcoco had over Chalca" (Wikipedia)
Some sources say that he allowed human sacrifice to continue for the other "gods" as people wished.
I always love the stories of God showing Himself to people when no person told them. All about His showing Himself.
The heavens praise your wonders, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.
Then I found out about Nezahualcoyot. He was a Mexican ruler in the 15th century, before the Spanish hit the area. What is so astounding to me is...he apparently knew God.
Depending on the sources you read, he found that the idols about him were made of stone and had nothing in them. There had to be a real God our there, a God with no name. It was this God he worshiped, and built a pyramid for as well.
"He practiced his faith in a peaceful way; In lieu of human sacrifice, he offered incense and fasted. He built a temple and prohibited human sacrifice in his city after he had fasted and prayed for the victory Texcoco had over Chalca" (Wikipedia)
Some sources say that he allowed human sacrifice to continue for the other "gods" as people wished.
I always love the stories of God showing Himself to people when no person told them. All about His showing Himself.
The heavens praise your wonders, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Dumbfounding is the Word.
Let us today examine some fascinating verses about the mark of God that is placed on us. I am personally curious if the "tongues of fire" that divided at Pentecost and settled on each person present was and/or is the mark---that the mark is having the Spirit. Or perhaps it is a mark otherwise. However, I digress, as I do not have enough studying on this topic to be certain.
What I really want to point out is how EVERYTHING in the Bible ties back to itself, in an astounding, overwhelmingly neat little box. No human author could possibly write such a book without some error in plot. To have had generations writing it? Astronomical. I enjoy the story of the atheist who studied the Bible to prove to his wife it was stupid. He became a fellow believer---could not find fault.
“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Rev 7.3
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. Rev 14.1
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. Rev 14.12 (love this, had to share--not really the main topic today)
"Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." Rev 14.13b (again, love it)
Note these two passages speaking on our being a priesthood. Very important to the next section!
Note these two passages speaking on our being a priesthood. Very important to the next section!
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Ptr 2.5
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Ptr 2.9
Alright. Now read this:
36 “Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the Lord. 37 Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. 38 It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the Lord. Exodus 28
How incredible is that! A marker worn by the first priest for God, to prove acceptability. Pretty dumbfounding to me that something only mentioned once (so far in my reading) is something that is mentioned at the very end of the Word. And not something that would seem to be this particular thing. Yet I think, by our being the priesthood (although under Jesus, who is a priest on the order of Melchezeck is the head priest)...these markers seem to be placed upon us as well. It is just too fascinating to find these links! Wow Really gonna look into this stuff more.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Offending God
Jerry Bridges: "We are more concerned about our own victory over sin than about the fact our sins grieve the heart of God. We cannot tolerate failure in our struggle win sin, chiefly because we are success-oriented, not because we know it is offensive to God"
Our culture is victory focused. Think of the amount of time spent watching, arguing and shouting for sports teams? It's all about winning (and fun).
We expect to fight off our sins by ourselves, too. We don't need help. If we do, we turn to self help books. We don't need help. Nor do we ever want to admit to God that we need His help to fight off sin, when in actuality, we have little hope of doing so alone.
If we do manage to fight off a sin, another crops up: pride. Look what I did, mommy!
We rarely consider that our actions against God are just that: actions against God. Of course they hurt Him
Deeply, and probably in a way we cannot understand. He did, after all, give us the breath of life, the air we breathe in and everything else....yet there we stand, mockingly stabbing Him in the back with whatever choice of sin we fixate on.
Even worse, we hunt through His Word to prove that we can do whatever sin we like, or we avoid the areas of the Word we know speak against our actions. Now we are just stabbing Him in the back while laughing!
No. We don't often consider the pain He takes on, and, as I say, I doubt we could understand it either way.
How truly incredible it is that by our admitting He is Lord, that He died to cover the disgustingly massive sin of our lives, He will save us. Be with us. Love us. Help us.
A.W. Tozer, in Knowledge of the Holy speaks of righteousness and judge...and states that they are really one in the same, because God is one. He judges, and is righteous about it; He is righteous and judges about it. The judgement we all deserved without Christ's taking on our sin is righteous---we certainly deserve it. But because of Christ, we will be judged as righteous. As it says, Abraham's faith was seen as righteousness. It is our faith that makes us righteous....but that certainly does not mean we can go about grieving Him because our sins are covered!
So let us examine our hearts at night on our beds, as the Psalms say. Look for sins, ask to be shown them. Ask forgiveness, ask Him for help.
Our culture is victory focused. Think of the amount of time spent watching, arguing and shouting for sports teams? It's all about winning (and fun).
We expect to fight off our sins by ourselves, too. We don't need help. If we do, we turn to self help books. We don't need help. Nor do we ever want to admit to God that we need His help to fight off sin, when in actuality, we have little hope of doing so alone.
If we do manage to fight off a sin, another crops up: pride. Look what I did, mommy!
We rarely consider that our actions against God are just that: actions against God. Of course they hurt Him
Deeply, and probably in a way we cannot understand. He did, after all, give us the breath of life, the air we breathe in and everything else....yet there we stand, mockingly stabbing Him in the back with whatever choice of sin we fixate on.
Even worse, we hunt through His Word to prove that we can do whatever sin we like, or we avoid the areas of the Word we know speak against our actions. Now we are just stabbing Him in the back while laughing!
No. We don't often consider the pain He takes on, and, as I say, I doubt we could understand it either way.
How truly incredible it is that by our admitting He is Lord, that He died to cover the disgustingly massive sin of our lives, He will save us. Be with us. Love us. Help us.
A.W. Tozer, in Knowledge of the Holy speaks of righteousness and judge...and states that they are really one in the same, because God is one. He judges, and is righteous about it; He is righteous and judges about it. The judgement we all deserved without Christ's taking on our sin is righteous---we certainly deserve it. But because of Christ, we will be judged as righteous. As it says, Abraham's faith was seen as righteousness. It is our faith that makes us righteous....but that certainly does not mean we can go about grieving Him because our sins are covered!
So let us examine our hearts at night on our beds, as the Psalms say. Look for sins, ask to be shown them. Ask forgiveness, ask Him for help.
Being Right There
Paradise. That is something more and more on my mind. But less for the reasons you might think. Certainly, being fee of illness has its points...but I am looking at something different.
I am thinking in terms of being right there with God. Right there. Being in the throne room, singing praises. Right there. Oh my....it is indescribable. Breath taking.
Have you read the words John penned speaking of it? I cry if I read them. I cry about getting a white robe and crown. I cry desperately at the "well done, my good and faithful servant". But tonight...tonight I cry at the thought of just being right there. Not having this pained, sinful world to attempt to distract us from God.
Who knows what it might be like. If on the side note we meet our relatives all the way back to whoever was first saved---the man who walked with God and was just taken, did not die? If we will meet children that died before a woman even knew she was pregnant? I vote for pets too.
But the best of all....being right there.
Come soon, Lord, come.
I am thinking in terms of being right there with God. Right there. Being in the throne room, singing praises. Right there. Oh my....it is indescribable. Breath taking.
Have you read the words John penned speaking of it? I cry if I read them. I cry about getting a white robe and crown. I cry desperately at the "well done, my good and faithful servant". But tonight...tonight I cry at the thought of just being right there. Not having this pained, sinful world to attempt to distract us from God.
Who knows what it might be like. If on the side note we meet our relatives all the way back to whoever was first saved---the man who walked with God and was just taken, did not die? If we will meet children that died before a woman even knew she was pregnant? I vote for pets too.
But the best of all....being right there.
Come soon, Lord, come.
Monday, March 14, 2016
RA Post: Maybe Again?
Been up and about more and more. I still crash every few days, sleeping solid. But I have not had so much horrible nausea. Even up to 30 minutes on stationary bike.
Hope this sticks.
Also looking into genetic testing....then if ever we have kids, I can worry a smidge less that I will pass on RA.
Hope this sticks.
Also looking into genetic testing....then if ever we have kids, I can worry a smidge less that I will pass on RA.
Let's Carry On: Edited---sometimes one should not write late at night!!
Your "cross" is God's will for you, regardless of the cost. Taking up your cross is a choice; it is not beyond your control. You may have health problems [etc]...[but] [y]our cross will be to voluntarily participate in Christ's sufferings as He carries out His redemptive purposes.
---Experiencing God devotional, Blackby
See Matt 16.24, and Phil 3.10 (for quick online reference, use boulevards.com or blueletterbible.com)
People often consider the "cross" we bear to be linked concretely with "sin" So let us first delve into that idea. First off, while He allows suffering as a cost of sin/being surrounded by sin...I still do not think it is His will. He created a Paradise, one where He walked beside us!
We picked this for ourselves generations ago, and each consecutive sinful generation adds to it. For there is a verse that speaks on the sin of a generation following 4 generations down. (By contrast, the blessings go even more generations down---I believe 17 generations, but not positive).
But my main focus tonight is on the cross we bear. We miss something when we think of picking up our cross. We think that we will just keep walking with this burden; musn't let ourselves be tired by it. Just stand strong like good little soldiers. Those are the things we tell ourselves and everyone else. If we do not stand up perfectly under these conditions, we are BAD Christians.
Everyone has something horrible to face---something horrible to them. We either handle this by continuing along the same path as before; change paths to try something "better"; the change of "destruction" by drugs or even suicide.
These choices will likely end up with the person in a worse spot than before--the death/drugs or the total "nervous breakdown". Why?
The difference is this: If we chose to ask God for the strength we need to actually go on, rather than flounder about like a dying fish, I believe then, and only then, are we truly carrying our crosses.
He, Himself, when facing crucifixion, had another man carrying His cross. We are to be yoked to Him, remember? For His yoke is light and easy.
We make it seem like we do need to carry this cross given to us alone---but the biggest "deny himself" I have found in humans is three fold: admit he has a problem, admit he needs help...and admit HE IS NOT A GOD!
We are supposed to have God. We are fooling ourselves to think we can carry any cross alone. So yes. Admit needing help. Admit you need God, get off of His throne. Ask for that help. Become yoked with the Lord. Come with Him, go where He goes. From my couch bed to days I can do all...it is an amazing view to be yoked side by side, carrying one's cross with Him. Without Him, without that yoked teamwork, all ends quickly in despair.
---Experiencing God devotional, Blackby
See Matt 16.24, and Phil 3.10 (for quick online reference, use boulevards.com or blueletterbible.com)
People often consider the "cross" we bear to be linked concretely with "sin" So let us first delve into that idea. First off, while He allows suffering as a cost of sin/being surrounded by sin...I still do not think it is His will. He created a Paradise, one where He walked beside us!
We picked this for ourselves generations ago, and each consecutive sinful generation adds to it. For there is a verse that speaks on the sin of a generation following 4 generations down. (By contrast, the blessings go even more generations down---I believe 17 generations, but not positive).
But my main focus tonight is on the cross we bear. We miss something when we think of picking up our cross. We think that we will just keep walking with this burden; musn't let ourselves be tired by it. Just stand strong like good little soldiers. Those are the things we tell ourselves and everyone else. If we do not stand up perfectly under these conditions, we are BAD Christians.
Everyone has something horrible to face---something horrible to them. We either handle this by continuing along the same path as before; change paths to try something "better"; the change of "destruction" by drugs or even suicide.
These choices will likely end up with the person in a worse spot than before--the death/drugs or the total "nervous breakdown". Why?
The difference is this: If we chose to ask God for the strength we need to actually go on, rather than flounder about like a dying fish, I believe then, and only then, are we truly carrying our crosses.
He, Himself, when facing crucifixion, had another man carrying His cross. We are to be yoked to Him, remember? For His yoke is light and easy.
We make it seem like we do need to carry this cross given to us alone---but the biggest "deny himself" I have found in humans is three fold: admit he has a problem, admit he needs help...and admit HE IS NOT A GOD!
We are supposed to have God. We are fooling ourselves to think we can carry any cross alone. So yes. Admit needing help. Admit you need God, get off of His throne. Ask for that help. Become yoked with the Lord. Come with Him, go where He goes. From my couch bed to days I can do all...it is an amazing view to be yoked side by side, carrying one's cross with Him. Without Him, without that yoked teamwork, all ends quickly in despair.
Daydreaming
My paralysis prevents me from reaching for common temptations. That's why my spiritual battlefield is on the field of my thoughts.
---Joni Eareckson Tada, Diamonds in the Dust
Joni speaks in nearly all the books written by her I have read of day dreaming. Day dreaming of what was.
This one enters my mind on the worst of days. Dreaming of when I had "more" in my life. The days of not counting how many daily activities I have done---how long, how often I walk Zoe the dog in a day, how many laundry loads I pick up---to know how likely I am to be out flat the next day.
It may not seem like much of a thought process...but it increases the anger of being ill. I do not tend.to be angry at God...instead I will lash out at everyone else.
Pre-RA, my thoughts drifted more to the normal.daydreamer's thoughts. And while daydreaming in and of itself is not necessarily bad, we must consider the content.
We are charged with taking every thought captive. It is proven that.the more a person thinks in a certain tract, the easier and easier it is for the brain to go through that same pattern of thinking.
Therefore, if you or I spend our time in not so healthy thoughts, it will be that much easier to return to them. Ever notice how hard it is to STOP a thought pattern?
We must consider our thoughts...what we think about eventually leads up to what we do. There is little problem if our thoughts are godly, honorable thoughts. More power to the person of this way of thinking!
If we are plagued by sinful thoughts----envious, backstabbing, lustful, angry, bitter, and others---there is lone theme I adore in the Bible.
Numerous passages in the Psalms speak of the Word as healing to the mind and soul. I have found that, during hard times, or the nights i cannot sleep from worry, reading the Word will ease me into sleep. This seems like a silly, disrespectful way of putting the Word. A sleep aid?!
Consider instead that that is how quickly His great Word works on our troubled minds!! Fifteen minutes of absorbing His Words works better than any sleep aid! And faster, with lasting results!
As we continue to read and absorb and think about Him, the less those "tedious" things of life matter. Praise Him, the less the harder things of life matter!
Our having the Word at our fingertips, in whatever version, is such a blessing! A blessing we never even consider---we just expect that, if we wanted to, we could read it. What a deadly day it will be if (and when) Bibles are banned.. we have right in our grasp the tiniest of portions of God, something to heal our minds and souls, to be trained in depth when we delve deeply by the Spirit.
Take advantage of the free healthcare of God. Regardless of whether physical healing happens now, or happens later....we get a wonderful, powerful, incredibly overwhelming peek at His love, His peace and strength. Those poisonous, hurtful, upsetting thoughts are not of God...take charge.of every thought.
---Joni Eareckson Tada, Diamonds in the Dust
Joni speaks in nearly all the books written by her I have read of day dreaming. Day dreaming of what was.
This one enters my mind on the worst of days. Dreaming of when I had "more" in my life. The days of not counting how many daily activities I have done---how long, how often I walk Zoe the dog in a day, how many laundry loads I pick up---to know how likely I am to be out flat the next day.
It may not seem like much of a thought process...but it increases the anger of being ill. I do not tend.to be angry at God...instead I will lash out at everyone else.
Pre-RA, my thoughts drifted more to the normal.daydreamer's thoughts. And while daydreaming in and of itself is not necessarily bad, we must consider the content.
We are charged with taking every thought captive. It is proven that.the more a person thinks in a certain tract, the easier and easier it is for the brain to go through that same pattern of thinking.
Therefore, if you or I spend our time in not so healthy thoughts, it will be that much easier to return to them. Ever notice how hard it is to STOP a thought pattern?
We must consider our thoughts...what we think about eventually leads up to what we do. There is little problem if our thoughts are godly, honorable thoughts. More power to the person of this way of thinking!
If we are plagued by sinful thoughts----envious, backstabbing, lustful, angry, bitter, and others---there is lone theme I adore in the Bible.
Numerous passages in the Psalms speak of the Word as healing to the mind and soul. I have found that, during hard times, or the nights i cannot sleep from worry, reading the Word will ease me into sleep. This seems like a silly, disrespectful way of putting the Word. A sleep aid?!
Consider instead that that is how quickly His great Word works on our troubled minds!! Fifteen minutes of absorbing His Words works better than any sleep aid! And faster, with lasting results!
As we continue to read and absorb and think about Him, the less those "tedious" things of life matter. Praise Him, the less the harder things of life matter!
Our having the Word at our fingertips, in whatever version, is such a blessing! A blessing we never even consider---we just expect that, if we wanted to, we could read it. What a deadly day it will be if (and when) Bibles are banned.. we have right in our grasp the tiniest of portions of God, something to heal our minds and souls, to be trained in depth when we delve deeply by the Spirit.
Take advantage of the free healthcare of God. Regardless of whether physical healing happens now, or happens later....we get a wonderful, powerful, incredibly overwhelming peek at His love, His peace and strength. Those poisonous, hurtful, upsetting thoughts are not of God...take charge.of every thought.
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Isa 53
I was reading Matthew, and this was a reference point in chapter 8 I believe. Love this!
Isa 53
Isa 53
Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justifymany,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justifymany,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Genealogy
I am fascinated by genealogy. The history of one's family throughout the ages---what experiences they had, both the ones we can discover through newspapers, stories...and the ones left only to imagination.
I look at my life and wonder, if He does not return in my lifetime, who might be interested in me...
I love reading about the cultural, historical significance and such that we miss in the Bible. Here we are, adopted into this family (Jesus' mention of bringing us into the flock, the main flock; mentioning of adoption and birthrates), yet we do not bother to know anything about our new heritage.
We miss out on a lot of amazing things about our family. The study of knowing more about this history is vividly important. Like attempting surgery without having attended college.
The Jews, dear Israel, are the firstborn, the true line. After all, it was through that line we got Jesus. We are the beloved adopted ones. We should learn about our family.
I really have nothing to say about a specific new family thing, but just to point out that I have learned many things---have had many things flash into a higher, vibrant brilliance, by knowing more about Jewish heritage and culture. If we will study about the culture of a business prospect from another country...should we not study the culture and understood things of our new family?
As I said....I simply cannot describe the vibrant amazing wonder discovered with knowing more about these things.
I look at my life and wonder, if He does not return in my lifetime, who might be interested in me...
I love reading about the cultural, historical significance and such that we miss in the Bible. Here we are, adopted into this family (Jesus' mention of bringing us into the flock, the main flock; mentioning of adoption and birthrates), yet we do not bother to know anything about our new heritage.
We miss out on a lot of amazing things about our family. The study of knowing more about this history is vividly important. Like attempting surgery without having attended college.
The Jews, dear Israel, are the firstborn, the true line. After all, it was through that line we got Jesus. We are the beloved adopted ones. We should learn about our family.
I really have nothing to say about a specific new family thing, but just to point out that I have learned many things---have had many things flash into a higher, vibrant brilliance, by knowing more about Jewish heritage and culture. If we will study about the culture of a business prospect from another country...should we not study the culture and understood things of our new family?
As I said....I simply cannot describe the vibrant amazing wonder discovered with knowing more about these things.
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Breathtaking
To most people God is an interference, not a reality....others do not go even so far as this; they know of Him only by heresay....To many others God is but an ideal, another name for goodness, or beauty, or truth.
They do not know God in a personal experience. [Missing out on] walking among the tress of the garden and breathing fragrance over ever scene. Always a living person is present, speaking, pleading, loving, working and manifesting Himself.
Pursuit of God. A.W. Tozer
How many of us spend a majority of our lives live by heresay about God? We rely on what we hear on a sermon---but do not dig down deeper on our own?
Admittedly there is a time in our growth when we are so overwhelmed and befuddled that listening to someone else once a week may be enough to keep our minds, hearts and souls busy. There will (or should) be a point at which this is not enough.
God is an indescribable, unfathomable being. Tozer speaks of this throughout his book The Knowledge of the Holy. The "attributes" we use, Tozer points out, to describe God are federation's words for the Creator. There are fascinating aspects we probably have no words for. Consider how the trinity befuddles man---leading to tedious arguments at times. The wonders we can attempt to learn about God are indeed breathtaking.
God is omniscient (and other omn words---meaning all). This fascinates me, as I realize that He knows all there is to know, more than maybe we can ever even hope to imagine to know.
A common argument I have heard against His creating all about us is that no one can be that powerful. His knowing everything...means to me that there is little doubt His "mere" words could create all. If one was that knowing, that powerful...why not? Consider what tiny portions we understand about science----hiw what we know changes constantly as other things prove our theories wrong. God knows it all...and like the best of artists, created this about us as easily as a few words (for Him), as might a painter with a few brush strokes. After all, Jesus said in few words that which drove demons from men and cured disease.
Learning about God is more limitless than any other form of study. Infinitely more rewarding. And infinitely more wondrous. God is beyond understanding completely....and yet His love for us, His creation, is such that He pays attention to the smallest details. How incredible is that.
They do not know God in a personal experience. [Missing out on] walking among the tress of the garden and breathing fragrance over ever scene. Always a living person is present, speaking, pleading, loving, working and manifesting Himself.
Pursuit of God. A.W. Tozer
How many of us spend a majority of our lives live by heresay about God? We rely on what we hear on a sermon---but do not dig down deeper on our own?
Admittedly there is a time in our growth when we are so overwhelmed and befuddled that listening to someone else once a week may be enough to keep our minds, hearts and souls busy. There will (or should) be a point at which this is not enough.
God is an indescribable, unfathomable being. Tozer speaks of this throughout his book The Knowledge of the Holy. The "attributes" we use, Tozer points out, to describe God are federation's words for the Creator. There are fascinating aspects we probably have no words for. Consider how the trinity befuddles man---leading to tedious arguments at times. The wonders we can attempt to learn about God are indeed breathtaking.
God is omniscient (and other omn words---meaning all). This fascinates me, as I realize that He knows all there is to know, more than maybe we can ever even hope to imagine to know.
A common argument I have heard against His creating all about us is that no one can be that powerful. His knowing everything...means to me that there is little doubt His "mere" words could create all. If one was that knowing, that powerful...why not? Consider what tiny portions we understand about science----hiw what we know changes constantly as other things prove our theories wrong. God knows it all...and like the best of artists, created this about us as easily as a few words (for Him), as might a painter with a few brush strokes. After all, Jesus said in few words that which drove demons from men and cured disease.
Learning about God is more limitless than any other form of study. Infinitely more rewarding. And infinitely more wondrous. God is beyond understanding completely....and yet His love for us, His creation, is such that He pays attention to the smallest details. How incredible is that.
Fear of it all
I am afraid of trying things. I am overall less ill than my first few months of RA. So I want to try to be out of the house and do this volunteer position.
But I am afraid. I am afraid of the consequences of activity on my illness factor. Some days I can feel that physically it is not worth trying. I will then be sick for a week and a half instead of three days.
I am crushed by some of the vanishing of friends of old. I adore my sweet RA friends and those who have stuck by me.
I think, in these experiences I might, by the vaguest of ways, have yet again more understanding for our Saviour.
As we know, throughout His earthly ministry He lost friends and family. His family thought He was mental, the neighborhood knew He was just a carpenter, the religious rulers saw Him as a trouble making man proclaiming to be God (who could also humiliate them in their sins), and on and on. Even at the last, His dearest vanished in the night with fear.
It is truly another amazing sign of His perfection that even with all of this, He still loved these people. He still loves us. He still loves me.
For as much as it may hurt to have chronic illness, it is still amazing to me that I can be foolish enough to not dedicate my day to Him. In other words, I happily ignore the One who is most capable of providing comfort, even pain relief (and healing if that be His will now or at some later point). I may have a "good day" or "good several days" and flippantly March about concerning myself with earthly things. Laundry, cleaning, walks, exercise, reading. I have not set myself down, physically or metaphorically, to be with God. How good He is to either send nudging by the Spirit to do this, or by some other person's actions send a reminder.
For as well I know...life is nothing without God...
But I am afraid. I am afraid of the consequences of activity on my illness factor. Some days I can feel that physically it is not worth trying. I will then be sick for a week and a half instead of three days.
I am crushed by some of the vanishing of friends of old. I adore my sweet RA friends and those who have stuck by me.
I think, in these experiences I might, by the vaguest of ways, have yet again more understanding for our Saviour.
As we know, throughout His earthly ministry He lost friends and family. His family thought He was mental, the neighborhood knew He was just a carpenter, the religious rulers saw Him as a trouble making man proclaiming to be God (who could also humiliate them in their sins), and on and on. Even at the last, His dearest vanished in the night with fear.
It is truly another amazing sign of His perfection that even with all of this, He still loved these people. He still loves us. He still loves me.
For as much as it may hurt to have chronic illness, it is still amazing to me that I can be foolish enough to not dedicate my day to Him. In other words, I happily ignore the One who is most capable of providing comfort, even pain relief (and healing if that be His will now or at some later point). I may have a "good day" or "good several days" and flippantly March about concerning myself with earthly things. Laundry, cleaning, walks, exercise, reading. I have not set myself down, physically or metaphorically, to be with God. How good He is to either send nudging by the Spirit to do this, or by some other person's actions send a reminder.
For as well I know...life is nothing without God...
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