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March 25, 2008
Notes from Faithwalkers - Mary Knox
Listened to this here. Hard for me to stomach, but good to ponder.
Discovering God in Life-Tsunamis
John Eldridge says that our lives are a story. And within that story lies our life message.
Max Lucado says that your story is still being written.
Rick Warren says that you have a storehouse of experiences that God wants to use to bring others into his family.
In his book "Epic," John Eldridge says that God is the author and main character. You're not the main character.
Heb. 12:2 - God is the author and perfecter of our faith.
In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. -(Missed the verse reference.)
God shows up. He goes with you. He gives you grace. And He blesses you.
John Piper says that the aim of God in your challenge (cancer for him), among a thousand other things, is to knock the props out of you and from under your heart so you rely utterly and totally on Him.
Some more of the thousand other things:
-The nearness of God is my good. Nothing else.
-Trust the Lord.
-Develops faith.
-Develops worship & prayer life.
-Draws us closer to God.
1 Peter 4:12 - Don't be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes upon you.
James 1:2-4 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
This is challenge is God's curriculum/boot camp/training to make us fit for God's use in the world.
To get us desperate for God.
Proof that God wants to use you.
Moses persevered because he saw him who is invisible - Hebrews 11:27b
John Piper said that you will waste your challenge if you do not believe it is designed for you. You will waste it if you believe it is a curse and not a gift. You will waste it if you don't treasure Christ above all else. (Note: not sure if I agree with the idea that God sends "challenges" specifically for us. Thinking that some challenges are simply the result of living in a fallen world. See post on "When God Doesn't Make Sense.)
God is most glorified when we are most satisfied with Him.
God will use this to make you treasure Him the most.
Without God, nothing makes sense.
What brings us to Christ? That we're sinners. That we're horrible at life. It brings us to the cross. It brings us to the blood of Christ.
The challenge becomes your ministry.
God is sovereign. God is good.
Submit and surrender to the author. Let Him do whatever he wants with your life.
Proverbs 20:24 - A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?
Romans 12:12 - Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Posted by Megan at 08:50 PM | Comments (2)
March 23, 2008
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flick'ring torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
-George Matheson
Posted by Megan at 12:46 PM | Comments (1)
March 21, 2008
No Air
Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air.
If I should die before I wake
It's 'cause you took my breath away
Losing you is like living in a world with no air
I'm here alone, didn't wanna leave
My heart won't move, it's incomplete
Wish there was a way that I can make you understand
But how do you expect me
to live alone with just me
'Cause my world revolves around you
It's so hard for me to breathe
Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air
Can't live, can't breathe with no air
It's how I feel whenever you ain't there
No air, no air...
-Jordin Sparks
Have at it, Pat, I'm sure you'd say these are terrible lyrics, and they probably are. But I feel them.
Posted by Megan at 09:51 PM | Comments (0)
March 19, 2008
Felt Good to Get Out of the Rain
Pictures from Phoenix/Scottsdale are posted on my Flickr account.
Posted by Megan at 03:02 PM | Comments (0)
March 11, 2008
When God Doesn't Make Sense
...is the title of a book by Dr. James Dobson. I'm currently about halfway through it, and was trying to explain to a friend what I've taken from it, but didn't do a very good job. So here's my second attempt at sharing -- my rough notes.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thought than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55:8-9
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. -1 Corinthians 13:12
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. -Hebrews 11:1
James 1?
Be still and know that I am God. -Psalm 46:10 (This verse has punched me in the gut several times in the past few days.)
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. -Hebrews 11:35-39
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7 (A commonly quoted one, but I'm still far from mastering it.)
God is present and involved in our lives even when He seems deaf or on an extended leave of absence.
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. -Phil. 4:19
God's timing is perfect.
For reasons that are impossible to explain, we human beings are incredibly previous to God.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. -Psalm 103:13
As a mother comforts her child., so I will comfort you. -Isaiah 66:13
Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were tis footings set, or who laid its cornerstone -- while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? -Job 38:2-7 (God to Job.)
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness. -2 Corinthians 12:9
The God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. -Daniel 3:17-18
My overly-concise summary thus far: Even if things don't look like you wanted them to, God is in control, and who are you to question him, anyway?! Plus, he loves you (believe it or not), and he may not take you out of the trial, but he will stand through it with you.
Posted by Megan at 10:46 PM | Comments (4)
March 04, 2008
Numb me
Everyone has their own pain. Why do we pretend like we have it all together?
Numb me.
Inject me with a chemical
rub a salve on my skin
give me a pill to swallow.
Numb me.
Deaden my nerves
turn off my senses
black out my surroundings.
Numb me.
Let me rest --
recover from the unrelenting bombardment
of pain
pain
pain
like waves carrying me repeatedly
into a brick wall.
Numb me.
Take me away
knock me out
let me sleep
and dream away reality.
Numb me.
Let me dream
of what it was like when my chest didn’t ache
from battling the sobs
trying to choke
the air out of my lungs
with every attempt
to inhale.
Posted by Megan at 07:44 PM | Comments (2)
March 01, 2008
Bible Y2K?
Realized yesterday that leap year poses a quandary for one-year Bibles and their readers...
Posted by Megan at 09:21 AM | Comments (2)