Hey Guys,
My thoughts these past week or two has been on the importance of truth. God truth. This is spurred perhaps in part by preparing for our church's apologetics miniseries, and hearing some excellent questions and objections to Christianity. Perhaps it is also due to having to make some important decisions and seeing value in having my thinking guided by the reality of Christ.
Sometimes when we're faced with tough questions, when we face doubt, or struggle with a decision; what we need aren't merely answers but a rock solid understanding of God's nature. Being able to provide a few biblical answers to the questions concerning homosexuality is not nearly as important as desperately holding onto the truth about His goodness and sovereignty. Nervousness over a first date was ultimately overcome not by wise counsel and kind reassurances from beloved friends, but in remembering that God works all things for the good of those who love him. The best that answers can do is satisfy the intellect/mind, truth satisfy the soul.
There will be days when mere answers won't be enough, but an absolute refusal to relinquish truth is like the proverbial house built on rock solid foundations. Crisp, clear, simple, short truths by which we live our lives. God is holy. God loves me. He died for my sake. He is sovereign. I sin. I am His child. He won't let go of me. He is worthy of praise. He is trustworthy. Without truths like these, we will be shaken with every tragedy we witness; conversely with truths like these, we remain steadfast even in seasons of plenty.
Encouragement for the week, let us often remind ourselves of truths that our lives might be governed by them. Let us LOVE truth. I think this is what Jesus meant by worshiping "in spirit and in truth." To know, to believe, and to express true things about God is worship, because truth is something implanted in us entirely by grace, for which we are eternally grateful.
Have a happy weekend!
Edward
"Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name." Psalm 86:11
"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
"This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:4
Tickled penguin!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K3MXY5ITxQ
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Happy Thursday (Altars) (04/07/2011)
Hey guys,
I recently had a conversation with a friend about people's tendency to hoard possessions and I came to the realization that I have a habit of collecting little things for sentimental reasons. An ocarina, movie stubs, an ostrich egg, couple of doodle covered notebooks, some handmade gifts from artsy friends, a large key - each of these items holds important memories to me. I also happened to have been reading a book by Mark Batterson and was on a chapter about the importance of life symbols in our Christian walk. Mark noticed one day that his office was decorated with art that, however aesthetic, held no meaning for him and resolved to fill his office with objects and pictures that would remind him of God's faithfulness in his life and ministry.
His reasoning, and I'm inclined to agree with him, is that memories of the past shape our subconscious and strongly influence our present perspectives and actions. Remembrance is a recurring theme in the bible, the word "remember" appears over 230 times. So we see holidays like Passover and Purim inaugurated, promises and covenants made, and altars built - all for the purpose of reminding these godly men and women of God's faithfulness in remembering them. We effectively build altars of remembrances for ourselves every time we revisit memories of times God's pulled through for us. It can be as simple as looking at old pictures, listening to a song that holds special meaning for us, making a pilgrimage to a location where you've encountered God, regularly examining how prayers have been answered, or perhaps by hoarding and decorating your room/office with small keepsakes to remind you of His goodness.
Encouragement for the week: Collect and review God exalting memories and build altars that reminds us of God's faithfulness so that in moments when we are most tempted to forget Him, we do not.
Have a happy Thursday!
Edward
"...My soul is cast down within me; therefore I will remember you..." Psalm 42:5
"Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone." Genesis 35:3
"One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, 'Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But the other rebuked him...And he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' And he said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'" Luke 25:39-43
Quite possibly the cutest puppy ever. Happy wakes up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8G4YgQyEMk&feature=related
I recently had a conversation with a friend about people's tendency to hoard possessions and I came to the realization that I have a habit of collecting little things for sentimental reasons. An ocarina, movie stubs, an ostrich egg, couple of doodle covered notebooks, some handmade gifts from artsy friends, a large key - each of these items holds important memories to me. I also happened to have been reading a book by Mark Batterson and was on a chapter about the importance of life symbols in our Christian walk. Mark noticed one day that his office was decorated with art that, however aesthetic, held no meaning for him and resolved to fill his office with objects and pictures that would remind him of God's faithfulness in his life and ministry.
His reasoning, and I'm inclined to agree with him, is that memories of the past shape our subconscious and strongly influence our present perspectives and actions. Remembrance is a recurring theme in the bible, the word "remember" appears over 230 times. So we see holidays like Passover and Purim inaugurated, promises and covenants made, and altars built - all for the purpose of reminding these godly men and women of God's faithfulness in remembering them. We effectively build altars of remembrances for ourselves every time we revisit memories of times God's pulled through for us. It can be as simple as looking at old pictures, listening to a song that holds special meaning for us, making a pilgrimage to a location where you've encountered God, regularly examining how prayers have been answered, or perhaps by hoarding and decorating your room/office with small keepsakes to remind you of His goodness.
Encouragement for the week: Collect and review God exalting memories and build altars that reminds us of God's faithfulness so that in moments when we are most tempted to forget Him, we do not.
Have a happy Thursday!
Edward
"...My soul is cast down within me; therefore I will remember you..." Psalm 42:5
"Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone." Genesis 35:3
"One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, 'Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But the other rebuked him...And he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' And he said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'" Luke 25:39-43
Quite possibly the cutest puppy ever. Happy wakes up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8G4YgQyEMk&feature=related
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)