Last week was difficult. There were transitions that perhaps I wasn't ready for, along with the fact that I was hit with the reality of lostness. Combined with other emotions, it proved to be a somewhat trying week. It wasn't all bad. I think the combination of these events allowed for a time of deeper reflection on the truth of God's Word. I have continually thought on the passage in 2 Corinthians 4:3-6.
"3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
The Gospel is Truth, but without the work of God's gracious revelation it is folly to those who don't believe. The contrast between a believer and nonbeliever is clear: blindness vs. walking in the light. A blind person cannot see Christ as God and as good. Only his children are able to love Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and to see the beauty in the cross of Christ. I long for others to see Him...
Thank You, Father, for revealing to me the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ. I long for the salvation of my friends and family. You are just in Your ways, Lord. May my desire be Your glory.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
P.S.
So, I was thinking about my motives for writing these blogs, and I think they are not always pure. Sometimes I guess I feel like I'm supposed to have something "deep" to say, and that's not always the case...so, I may just write about what's going on in my life, and if God is teaching me something then I may share that as well. I guess my motives sometimes truly are not "For His Name's Sake" but for mine, and I don't want that to be the reason I post on here...so I guess I felt like saying that, and I also feel accountable for what I write on here. I don't want to be responsible for saying anything that would be contradictory to Scripture, not here or anywhere. Anyway, just wanted to say that I guess...may God be glorified, not me (despite my inadequacies and impure motives!)
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Why We Must Think Rightly About God
So, I kind of stole this title from A.W. Tozer, but I read an article by him about this very subject that made a lot of sense to me. He argued that there is a very great need for us to have a right idea of God, who He is and His character. To find this truth about God, we must go to the Word...our view of the Holy One must be consistent with His character as presented in the very Word that He breathed. To think wrongly of Him is not only detrimental to our growth and understanding of truth, but also it is sin.
When we worship something other than God, we are worshipping an idol. That, according to Tozer, is precisely what happens when we worship God believing our own false ideas of who He is. He becomes not the infinite God of the universe, but our own personal god instead. Although this may seem simple in theory, it may be challenging in application. For instance, how hard is it for us to separate truth from fiction in our mind when, for perhaps years, we've trusted in lies? This may not, and hopefully is not the case, with most believers, but I think subtle ideas from our culture or our own concoction can creep in and dwell within our hearts. How, then, do we change this? I am speaking to myself as well when I say that we must use the Word of God...
I have not practically tried to apply this, but I think this can be a continual process. Obviously if God reveals to us that we are believing falsely about Him, then we must repent and believe the truth. As we seek Him through His Word throughout our life, hopefully He will continue to reveal Himself to us through it, ever-growing in our knowledge and trust in Him because of His grace alone.
I'm sure Tozer probably did this topic a lot more justice than I did, but hopefully it is a decent summary of the idea anyway. I also want to encourage anyone who may read this to click on the link on my page to Ryan's blog to especially read the posts about Meditations on the Cross, parts 1-3. They are a great reminder and tool for pondering what Christ did...the Gospel.
When we worship something other than God, we are worshipping an idol. That, according to Tozer, is precisely what happens when we worship God believing our own false ideas of who He is. He becomes not the infinite God of the universe, but our own personal god instead. Although this may seem simple in theory, it may be challenging in application. For instance, how hard is it for us to separate truth from fiction in our mind when, for perhaps years, we've trusted in lies? This may not, and hopefully is not the case, with most believers, but I think subtle ideas from our culture or our own concoction can creep in and dwell within our hearts. How, then, do we change this? I am speaking to myself as well when I say that we must use the Word of God...
I have not practically tried to apply this, but I think this can be a continual process. Obviously if God reveals to us that we are believing falsely about Him, then we must repent and believe the truth. As we seek Him through His Word throughout our life, hopefully He will continue to reveal Himself to us through it, ever-growing in our knowledge and trust in Him because of His grace alone.
I'm sure Tozer probably did this topic a lot more justice than I did, but hopefully it is a decent summary of the idea anyway. I also want to encourage anyone who may read this to click on the link on my page to Ryan's blog to especially read the posts about Meditations on the Cross, parts 1-3. They are a great reminder and tool for pondering what Christ did...the Gospel.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Pride...
Well, this summer has been so great thus far! Everyone here seems to be growing in some way or another! It's so great to be in an environment like this...
Toward the beginning of the summer, one of the students asked me something God had been teaching me. I didn't really know what to say at the time, but one thing I continually struggle with is my pride. I told him about how selfish I can be and just continued to talk some about my sin. Finally, he said one thing that I think was very wise...He reminded me to just stop focusing on my sin. Instead, focus on God. Even when I look at my own failures, the object is me. It is good to recognize sin, but I think dwelling on it can be detrimental to growth. When we fix our eyes on Christ, on what He's done and who He is, then He gets the glory. How better to strip away my pride than to have, and be humbled by, a deeper understanding of the Creator of the universe, who is my Father?!
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:25-26
Toward the beginning of the summer, one of the students asked me something God had been teaching me. I didn't really know what to say at the time, but one thing I continually struggle with is my pride. I told him about how selfish I can be and just continued to talk some about my sin. Finally, he said one thing that I think was very wise...He reminded me to just stop focusing on my sin. Instead, focus on God. Even when I look at my own failures, the object is me. It is good to recognize sin, but I think dwelling on it can be detrimental to growth. When we fix our eyes on Christ, on what He's done and who He is, then He gets the glory. How better to strip away my pride than to have, and be humbled by, a deeper understanding of the Creator of the universe, who is my Father?!
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:25-26
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Hilton Head
So, this is the first blog I have written since we have gotten to Hilton Head! This place is so exciting for so many reasons! The group here is an awesome...including my GREAT roommates!!!! I love those girls...we get along so well already! The leaders here are so passionate about Christ, and it is so evident in their lives. The discipline here points us to Christ and getting to know Him more. There is encouragement to spread the Name of Christ to others through relationships we build. The beach isn't such a bad thing either....
Tonight, we had the men's/women's night, and the girls had an awesome time together! Liz spoke to us about modesty, and she focused mainly on the heart of it as opposed to rules about what not to wear. It was so amazing to see her sincerity as she spoke to us about the struggles that godly guys have to go through every day in order to fight temptation and sin. I know I do not want to be responsible for causing one of my brothers to stumble.
I'm still in the job search process...hopefully I'll be able to update the blog if/when I get one!
Tonight, we had the men's/women's night, and the girls had an awesome time together! Liz spoke to us about modesty, and she focused mainly on the heart of it as opposed to rules about what not to wear. It was so amazing to see her sincerity as she spoke to us about the struggles that godly guys have to go through every day in order to fight temptation and sin. I know I do not want to be responsible for causing one of my brothers to stumble.
I'm still in the job search process...hopefully I'll be able to update the blog if/when I get one!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
A Poem About the Moon...After Witnessing it's Beauty Last Night!
We are the moon
Whose purpose is but one
With all its dents and craters
Can still reflect the sun.
No, 'tis no good on its own,
But when the source is hidden,
It's brilliance does not go away
But through the moon looks bigger.
Oh, how unpredictable the moon,
With it's waxing and waning shapes!
It's reliance on the sun
Can never be erased.
For without it's glow,
The moon lacks beauty.
Thankfully the sun shines bright enough
To fulfill this night-light's duty!
Whose purpose is but one
With all its dents and craters
Can still reflect the sun.
No, 'tis no good on its own,
But when the source is hidden,
It's brilliance does not go away
But through the moon looks bigger.
Oh, how unpredictable the moon,
With it's waxing and waning shapes!
It's reliance on the sun
Can never be erased.
For without it's glow,
The moon lacks beauty.
Thankfully the sun shines bright enough
To fulfill this night-light's duty!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Valuing the Word
In reading and learning both from the John Piper's book and in my own life, I am realizing more and more how important the Word of God is in fighting against sin and renewing your mind constantly. Without the truth of the Word to set us free from the power of sin and temptation, we would be hopeless in the fight for joy in our Lord Jesus Christ. Memorizing Scripture, something I have not done nearly enough, gives us a powerful weapon we need to sever the sinful desires that pull at our souls.
It's also becoming more apparent, though possibly harder to accept, that in order to know Christ more, much work is required. Scripture memory, meditation, time out of our day, intentional conversations, denial of self....all require effort, effort that I often fail to put forth. Not only do I fail to do so in my laziness, but also in my pride. In my attempt to please man, I in my pride, many times do not humble myself enough to be taught well. Instead, I pretentiously seek to show my own knowledge to others. This type of action itself displays my actual lack of knowledge and great need for teaching...
It's also becoming more apparent, though possibly harder to accept, that in order to know Christ more, much work is required. Scripture memory, meditation, time out of our day, intentional conversations, denial of self....all require effort, effort that I often fail to put forth. Not only do I fail to do so in my laziness, but also in my pride. In my attempt to please man, I in my pride, many times do not humble myself enough to be taught well. Instead, I pretentiously seek to show my own knowledge to others. This type of action itself displays my actual lack of knowledge and great need for teaching...
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