Rheumatoid Awareness
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Drinkable Light
One of my favorite passages is in 1 Timothy, a statement by Paul. "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners---of which I am the worst."1 Tim 1.15
Oh, the very idea of seeing the list of sins I have done is shuddering. Yet I know that while I feel like the worst of sinners, my King shall say to my Father that all is paid for. Every infraction against my God and Lord is covered.
I am certain I do not see His full love, or quite feel it all..I do not think here on earth I could stand His full love. I wish I could begin to describe the overwhelming love God has for each of us, the love He has shown to me. Many feel that sins must be covered by our own actions, or that that is the truest form of salvation.
Beloved, nothing is needed but to accept His gift. Apologize and ask for help when sins enter your conscience. His love is so incredibly deep and perfect. We needn't be concerned that the world hates us. So long as we reach evermore for Him, nothing else matters. His love is the everything we needed, need and will ever need.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis has a point in which the shipmates merely drink water----but this water is more like drinkable light than water. They need little to no rest, they need no food.
I believe this is a bit of an example of what His love is really like. We don't really need anything else. The world tells us we do, hates us when we refuse to listen or tell it happily of the real joy available. Everyone wants true love, love that never disappoints or fails...but unlike fairytales, it does not happen in real life.
With the exception of God's love. Oh. If I could but find the words for His love. Drinkable light.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Evil Whispers
Are we willing to accept whatever happens in life? We would all say yes, though the truth is often far from it. People either hold onto God deeper when hardships come along, or they fling themselves away from Him, saying He is not trustworthy. He allowed my illness. He allowed the death of my spouse. He allowed my child's illness. He allowed that earthquake.
It is an odd contrast then, how we will make excuses for the human loves in our lives. He is on drugs. She is in a bad spot.
We do not often sit quietly as our world crumples about us and think that, whatever happens, God truly loves us. Mourns when we mourn, even if what happens is good in the long run.
Even with as frustrated as I can be in the limitations of my body, the hours I am allowed to do something before my body begins to object mightily at the strain, I do not blame God.
I got one wish I began to wish for. And while I am nowhere near, I've done more study in the last two and a half years than ever in my life.
He is so near to my heart that prayer is an incredible experience...so much deeper in communion with the Spirit than ever.
Do not think I am bragging. There is always this haunting, taunting voice in the background. I do not even know if such would work, but I refuse. This voice, singsonging in the background, constantly at my weakest points that all I have to do to "live" a human life as the culture demands is refuse God. Say I refuse that deep, wonderful, all encompassing joy I know when I speak to Him, when most I need my Father. The idea is revolting---even as tempting as it is to be a full time nurse, housewife, mother.
People watch us. The Spiritual world watches us. What we decide matters, not just for our own souls, but for those of others. When we hang on, reach for and cling to His hand, He doesn't just absentmindedly pat our heads. No. He scoops us up, holds us dear. When we doubt, ask for an answer. Did not Thomas doubt and ask for proof---and honestly get more proof than he wanted?
God is so willing to help us in our faith. It seems to us that we have to do all the work, but from all I have experienced, that is just not true. He will help in more ways than I can even think of, certainly more ways than I have had to ask for.
Never alone, never forgotten. Always loved beyond all reason we understand as humans in a broken world. I can never understand why I am in this place of limitation...but when we are put in hard places, we must say "I will do what you lay before me". And that is the hardest, most wonderful thing to ever say. And how He will wrap us in His love, and possibly whisper the plans He has for us in each sorrow we have, the plans in the good times and the hard times. For what good and perfect Father would ever leave His happy child to celebrate alone? And what good and perfect Father would leave His child weeping in the corner? No, we are indeed loved, comforted...and given great whispers of the plans He has for us, and of the good place we will live.
Come soon, O Lord.
It is an odd contrast then, how we will make excuses for the human loves in our lives. He is on drugs. She is in a bad spot.
We do not often sit quietly as our world crumples about us and think that, whatever happens, God truly loves us. Mourns when we mourn, even if what happens is good in the long run.
Even with as frustrated as I can be in the limitations of my body, the hours I am allowed to do something before my body begins to object mightily at the strain, I do not blame God.
I got one wish I began to wish for. And while I am nowhere near, I've done more study in the last two and a half years than ever in my life.
He is so near to my heart that prayer is an incredible experience...so much deeper in communion with the Spirit than ever.
Do not think I am bragging. There is always this haunting, taunting voice in the background. I do not even know if such would work, but I refuse. This voice, singsonging in the background, constantly at my weakest points that all I have to do to "live" a human life as the culture demands is refuse God. Say I refuse that deep, wonderful, all encompassing joy I know when I speak to Him, when most I need my Father. The idea is revolting---even as tempting as it is to be a full time nurse, housewife, mother.
People watch us. The Spiritual world watches us. What we decide matters, not just for our own souls, but for those of others. When we hang on, reach for and cling to His hand, He doesn't just absentmindedly pat our heads. No. He scoops us up, holds us dear. When we doubt, ask for an answer. Did not Thomas doubt and ask for proof---and honestly get more proof than he wanted?
God is so willing to help us in our faith. It seems to us that we have to do all the work, but from all I have experienced, that is just not true. He will help in more ways than I can even think of, certainly more ways than I have had to ask for.
Never alone, never forgotten. Always loved beyond all reason we understand as humans in a broken world. I can never understand why I am in this place of limitation...but when we are put in hard places, we must say "I will do what you lay before me". And that is the hardest, most wonderful thing to ever say. And how He will wrap us in His love, and possibly whisper the plans He has for us in each sorrow we have, the plans in the good times and the hard times. For what good and perfect Father would ever leave His happy child to celebrate alone? And what good and perfect Father would leave His child weeping in the corner? No, we are indeed loved, comforted...and given great whispers of the plans He has for us, and of the good place we will live.
Come soon, O Lord.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
A New Name
One of the things I am most curious about is...a new name. For example, Simon was called Peter by Christ.
Do we all have a name, a name He knows us by, knows us best as? Simply because it is really what He made us to be?
What would my name be? Why?
A fun thing to think about---even if my name would still be the one that I have now.
Do we all have a name, a name He knows us by, knows us best as? Simply because it is really what He made us to be?
What would my name be? Why?
A fun thing to think about---even if my name would still be the one that I have now.
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