(This post is sort of more of a side note of a particular section of Chapter One.)
Piper brings up the point that a lot of people feel they are merely being used by God since they were created for His glory. He goes on to describe the difference between what love truly means and what the world views love as. Regarding how the world views love, he says, “We are taught in a thousand ways that love means increasing someone’s self-esteem. Love is helping someone feel good about themselves.” (pg. 33) On the other hand, Piper tells his readers that the Bible does not view love in this same way; according to the Bible, “love is doing what is best for someone […and] making self the object of our highest affections is not best for us. It is, in fact, a lethal distraction. We were made to see and savor God.”
Therefore, since God’s love is perfect and would be shown to us best by giving us what He views as is best for us (seeing how He knows everything and knows what is best for us), logically “God loves us best by giving us the best to enjoy forever, namely Himself, for He is best.” (p. 35)
So in looking at the situation more closely, if God knows He is the best thing that He could give to a sinner and since He loves people perfectly, obviously He would give Himself to people so that they might in turn love Him and glorify Him. Therefore, in connecting to the quote in my previous post, “[God] is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” When we are satisfied with “The Best,” God gets the most glory.
Monday, May 23, 2011
God Glorified
Something to think about:
“[God] is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” (pg. 36)
I will be honest...I do not live in light of this at all times.
“[God] is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” (pg. 36)
I will be honest...I do not live in light of this at all times.
The Wasted Life
A believer’s single passion in life should be the same as God’s passion: “God’s passion was the display of His own glory and the delight of my heart.” (pg. 28) God getting glory and me delighting solely in Him go hand in hand although most people do not realize this. When we enjoy God, we glorify Him; when we enjoy Him we display Him and His supreme value. I was created to live with the sole passion of glorifying God through enjoying Him and showing His excellence to people in all areas of my life.
Isaiah 43:6b-7 says, “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Here we see that we were created for the glory of God. Failing to live for God’s glory means that a person will live a wasted life. As sort of an example, one of the main reasons a carpenter makes a chair is for the purpose of people sitting on it; however, if it is never used for sitting but used instead, say, for fueling a fire, it has been wasted of its created purpose. This is similar to a Christian’s life; if he was made to glorify God and yet does not live for the glory of God, he has wasted his life and not fulfilled the reason that he was made.
When we glorify God we are essentially magnifying His glory; we are revealing to other who God really is and putting on display His worthiness of worship. Piper says this about the wasted life:
We waste our lives when we do not pray and think and dream and plan and work toward magnifying God in all spheres of life.” (pg. 32)
That is why 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Piper goes on to say:
“God created us for this: to live our lives in a way that makes Him [God] look more like the greatness and the beauty and the infinite worth that He really is.” (pg. 32)
To not live for God is to live a wasted life; to live and not point people to God is selfish and unloving. We see God’s love displayed in giving us eternal life which—according to John 17:3—eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ. Christ died and suffered so that we might be brought to God! (1 Peter 3:18) I really love what Piper says about God’s love of sacrificing His own Son for us. This love “must rescue us from our addiction to self and bring us, changed, into the presence of God.” (pg. 36) If we fail to share this great news with others we fail to love them!
Glorifying God is not to be done so that we ourselves feel loved, used, or needed by God. Piper says, “God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of Him in every part of our lives.” (pg. 37) He closes the chapter with this:
“Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain.” (p. 40)
The Gospel fully displays God’s glory and it gives us a reason to live our lives. When we cling to the cross we cling to God’s love for us. When we cling to God’s love and when we truly understand the depth of His love for us we can do nothing but honor, glorify, and worship Him.
Isaiah 43:6b-7 says, “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Here we see that we were created for the glory of God. Failing to live for God’s glory means that a person will live a wasted life. As sort of an example, one of the main reasons a carpenter makes a chair is for the purpose of people sitting on it; however, if it is never used for sitting but used instead, say, for fueling a fire, it has been wasted of its created purpose. This is similar to a Christian’s life; if he was made to glorify God and yet does not live for the glory of God, he has wasted his life and not fulfilled the reason that he was made.
When we glorify God we are essentially magnifying His glory; we are revealing to other who God really is and putting on display His worthiness of worship. Piper says this about the wasted life:
We waste our lives when we do not pray and think and dream and plan and work toward magnifying God in all spheres of life.” (pg. 32)
That is why 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Piper goes on to say:
“God created us for this: to live our lives in a way that makes Him [God] look more like the greatness and the beauty and the infinite worth that He really is.” (pg. 32)
To not live for God is to live a wasted life; to live and not point people to God is selfish and unloving. We see God’s love displayed in giving us eternal life which—according to John 17:3—eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ. Christ died and suffered so that we might be brought to God! (1 Peter 3:18) I really love what Piper says about God’s love of sacrificing His own Son for us. This love “must rescue us from our addiction to self and bring us, changed, into the presence of God.” (pg. 36) If we fail to share this great news with others we fail to love them!
Glorifying God is not to be done so that we ourselves feel loved, used, or needed by God. Piper says, “God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of Him in every part of our lives.” (pg. 37) He closes the chapter with this:
“Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain.” (p. 40)
The Gospel fully displays God’s glory and it gives us a reason to live our lives. When we cling to the cross we cling to God’s love for us. When we cling to God’s love and when we truly understand the depth of His love for us we can do nothing but honor, glorify, and worship Him.
Only One Life
At the beginning of Chapter One, Piper tells a story of remembering a man come to Christ in his later years of life. As the man prayed with Piper’s father, the old man wept, “I’ve wasted it! I’ve wasted it!” Will I too come to the end of my life and cry those same words? Or am I confident that how I am living my life now is such that Christ is being honored and glorified?
Piper includes a little poem that was on a plaque in his kitchen growing up. It said:
“Only one life,
‘Twill soon be past;
Only what’s done
for Christ will last.” (pg. 12)
Christ will be the one at the end of our lives who will measure the worth of what we have done. Are we living in such a way that is furthering the kingdom of God?
I am reminded of a lesson taught to me in my Principles of Family Finance class last Fall at Master’s. One of the first lectures we had regarding finances included discussing biblical principles of stewardship, giving, etc. We went through the passage in Matthew 6 that talks about laying up for ourselves treasures in Heaven. It was brought to our attention that the only things that we can take to Heaven with us are people. For some reason—probably my thick-headedness—I had never really thought about this before but it is so true! People are the only things that will be in Heaven with us that will be impacted by how we live here on earth. While staying fit, reading books, playing video games are not sinful in and of themselves, are they benefiting the furtherance of the kingdom of God? Are they being done in such a way so as to minister to other people and share the Gospel with them? Or are we doing them solely for our own pleasure?
May all that we do be for the glory and honor of God!
Piper includes a little poem that was on a plaque in his kitchen growing up. It said:
“Only one life,
‘Twill soon be past;
Only what’s done
for Christ will last.” (pg. 12)
Christ will be the one at the end of our lives who will measure the worth of what we have done. Are we living in such a way that is furthering the kingdom of God?
I am reminded of a lesson taught to me in my Principles of Family Finance class last Fall at Master’s. One of the first lectures we had regarding finances included discussing biblical principles of stewardship, giving, etc. We went through the passage in Matthew 6 that talks about laying up for ourselves treasures in Heaven. It was brought to our attention that the only things that we can take to Heaven with us are people. For some reason—probably my thick-headedness—I had never really thought about this before but it is so true! People are the only things that will be in Heaven with us that will be impacted by how we live here on earth. While staying fit, reading books, playing video games are not sinful in and of themselves, are they benefiting the furtherance of the kingdom of God? Are they being done in such a way so as to minister to other people and share the Gospel with them? Or are we doing them solely for our own pleasure?
May all that we do be for the glory and honor of God!
I Am Not My Own
“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20
As believers, we ourselves and our lives are not our own because we have been saved by the purchasing power of Christ’s blood. Because got made us and bought us, we are His. God made us to glorify Him. My purpose in life is to glorify God…this gives me meaning to live by and for each day.
Piper reminds his readers that God’s glory and our own personal joy are not two separate things. He says,
“It was not always plain to me that pursuing God’s glory would be virtually the same as pursing my joy. Now I see that millions of people waste their lives because they think these paths are two and not one.” (pg. 9)
How often do people reject the Gospel because they do not want to feel trapped or burdened down by serving the Lord? Yes, it is true—according to Jesus’ very own words in Matthew 10:39—that giving our lives to Jesus and seeking Him and His joy will cost us our whole lives. BUT, Christ says in Matthew 10:39, “Whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s will save it.” The paradox of the Gospel is perfectly portrayed in this verse. We become slaves to God and yet find total freedom in Him.
I can either choose to lose my life for Christ and live fully under His rule or I can waste my entire life living for myself. In the moment, living for myself might seem great, but all of those temporary pleasures will quickly flee when I stand at the end of life before God; it will be evident then that living for myself was a complete waste.
As believers, we ourselves and our lives are not our own because we have been saved by the purchasing power of Christ’s blood. Because got made us and bought us, we are His. God made us to glorify Him. My purpose in life is to glorify God…this gives me meaning to live by and for each day.
Piper reminds his readers that God’s glory and our own personal joy are not two separate things. He says,
“It was not always plain to me that pursuing God’s glory would be virtually the same as pursing my joy. Now I see that millions of people waste their lives because they think these paths are two and not one.” (pg. 9)
How often do people reject the Gospel because they do not want to feel trapped or burdened down by serving the Lord? Yes, it is true—according to Jesus’ very own words in Matthew 10:39—that giving our lives to Jesus and seeking Him and His joy will cost us our whole lives. BUT, Christ says in Matthew 10:39, “Whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s will save it.” The paradox of the Gospel is perfectly portrayed in this verse. We become slaves to God and yet find total freedom in Him.
I can either choose to lose my life for Christ and live fully under His rule or I can waste my entire life living for myself. In the moment, living for myself might seem great, but all of those temporary pleasures will quickly flee when I stand at the end of life before God; it will be evident then that living for myself was a complete waste.
Reasons for Reading “Don’t Waste Your Life”
As I mentioned a few days ago, I began reading the book Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. So far it has been really good!
I had a few reasons I picked up the book. First, I am looking for a book to go through (or at least to talk through) with the girls in my small group next year at college. Second, this book by Piper was one of the books we read in Biblical Fundamentals my freshman year at The Master’s College. I remember thinking it was good but that I did not really take the time to soak it in being it was a busy semester. Therefore, I figured it would be good to reread.
As I am reading through it this time, I am making notes in a journal of my favorite sections of the book as well as I am summarizing main points. The posts that follow this one will be some of my thoughts correlated with different sections of the book and the notes I take on it. I hope and pray that the Lord would use this book and the truth of God’s Word to change me and that you might also be changed by the power of Christ and His Holy Spirit speaking through His Word.
I had a few reasons I picked up the book. First, I am looking for a book to go through (or at least to talk through) with the girls in my small group next year at college. Second, this book by Piper was one of the books we read in Biblical Fundamentals my freshman year at The Master’s College. I remember thinking it was good but that I did not really take the time to soak it in being it was a busy semester. Therefore, I figured it would be good to reread.
As I am reading through it this time, I am making notes in a journal of my favorite sections of the book as well as I am summarizing main points. The posts that follow this one will be some of my thoughts correlated with different sections of the book and the notes I take on it. I hope and pray that the Lord would use this book and the truth of God’s Word to change me and that you might also be changed by the power of Christ and His Holy Spirit speaking through His Word.
Be All There
“Wherever you are be all there. Live to the hilt ever situation you believe to be the will of God.” ~Jim Elliot~
I was reminded of this quote the other day when I was writing my post a few days again. For me, living completely in the moment and being totally committed to the task that the Lord has laid out for me at a certain time can be really hard. Oftentimes I am wishing that I could be somewhere else with different people doing different things in different places. It can be so hard for us to be content in our circumstances and situations if we are not finding contentment and satisfaction in the Lord. Yes, many of us know that we are in the place God has us because He is sovereign, but getting that knowledge from our head to our heart to our feet/actions is another discipline and—for me personally—very hard to do at times.
We need to focus on being fully engaged in the tasks that God sets before us each day. And how will we know what God’s will is each day? Although He will most likely not tell us specifically, we can be praying through Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” If we trust the Lord, refrain from trusting ourselves, and instead ask the Lord for guidance each day, He will reveal what He has planned for us.
And then it is our duty to remember 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” In being “all there” wherever we are and in “living to the hilt” the situations we believe and know to be part of God’s will, we can honor and glorify our God and Father.
I was reminded of this quote the other day when I was writing my post a few days again. For me, living completely in the moment and being totally committed to the task that the Lord has laid out for me at a certain time can be really hard. Oftentimes I am wishing that I could be somewhere else with different people doing different things in different places. It can be so hard for us to be content in our circumstances and situations if we are not finding contentment and satisfaction in the Lord. Yes, many of us know that we are in the place God has us because He is sovereign, but getting that knowledge from our head to our heart to our feet/actions is another discipline and—for me personally—very hard to do at times.
We need to focus on being fully engaged in the tasks that God sets before us each day. And how will we know what God’s will is each day? Although He will most likely not tell us specifically, we can be praying through Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” If we trust the Lord, refrain from trusting ourselves, and instead ask the Lord for guidance each day, He will reveal what He has planned for us.
And then it is our duty to remember 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” In being “all there” wherever we are and in “living to the hilt” the situations we believe and know to be part of God’s will, we can honor and glorify our God and Father.
Wait
Just a preface...I did NOT write this poem. =]
"Wait"
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I plead and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said,
“Child, you must wait.”
“Wait? You say, wait!” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is Your hand shortened? Or have You not heard?
By faith, I have asked, and am claiming Your Word.
My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to WAIT?
I’m needing a “Yes”, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a “No” to which I can resign.
And Lord, You promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:
“I’m wearing of asking! I need a reply!”
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, “You must wait.”
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting…for what?”
He seemed, then, to kneel
And His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want—
But, you wouldn’t know Me.
You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You’d not know the power I give to the faint;
You’d not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there;
You’d not know the joy of resting in Me;
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
You’d never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;
You’d know that I give and I save, for a start,
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have last.
You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What is means that, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”
Yes, your dreams for your loved one
Overnight would come true,
But, Oh, the Loss! I I lost what I’m doing in you!
So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft’ may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still, “Wait.”
Although this poem is kind of corny in parts, I think it so accurately portrays the attitudes of many Christians. Whether we are waiting for God to reveal what job He would have us work at, who we are going to marry, where we will live, how we will make ends meet, what our next step in schooling will be, etc. we all have to trust in the Lord and wait on His timing and answers at some point in life. That is just part of life.
I love how the author of this poem makes the point that, yes, God could just give us what we ask for and what we want, but there are many times when He does not view this as being best for us. Most times, causing us to wait on Him and rely on His strength for endurance to wait is the greater way to sanctify and refine us. I am reminded of verses like Psalm 37:5 that talk about committing our way to the Lord and waiting for Him to act as we trust in Him. I am overwhelmed by the thought that God would seek our best by causing us to know Him better by resting in Him. We learn so much in resting in His strength and sufficiency.
Praise God for His continual work in us! Praise Him who “began a good work in [us for He] will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”! (Philippians 1:6)
"Wait"
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I plead and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said,
“Child, you must wait.”
“Wait? You say, wait!” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is Your hand shortened? Or have You not heard?
By faith, I have asked, and am claiming Your Word.
My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to WAIT?
I’m needing a “Yes”, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a “No” to which I can resign.
And Lord, You promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:
“I’m wearing of asking! I need a reply!”
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, “You must wait.”
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting…for what?”
He seemed, then, to kneel
And His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want—
But, you wouldn’t know Me.
You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You’d not know the power I give to the faint;
You’d not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there;
You’d not know the joy of resting in Me;
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
You’d never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;
You’d know that I give and I save, for a start,
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have last.
You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What is means that, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”
Yes, your dreams for your loved one
Overnight would come true,
But, Oh, the Loss! I I lost what I’m doing in you!
So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft’ may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still, “Wait.”
Although this poem is kind of corny in parts, I think it so accurately portrays the attitudes of many Christians. Whether we are waiting for God to reveal what job He would have us work at, who we are going to marry, where we will live, how we will make ends meet, what our next step in schooling will be, etc. we all have to trust in the Lord and wait on His timing and answers at some point in life. That is just part of life.
I love how the author of this poem makes the point that, yes, God could just give us what we ask for and what we want, but there are many times when He does not view this as being best for us. Most times, causing us to wait on Him and rely on His strength for endurance to wait is the greater way to sanctify and refine us. I am reminded of verses like Psalm 37:5 that talk about committing our way to the Lord and waiting for Him to act as we trust in Him. I am overwhelmed by the thought that God would seek our best by causing us to know Him better by resting in Him. We learn so much in resting in His strength and sufficiency.
Praise God for His continual work in us! Praise Him who “began a good work in [us for He] will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”! (Philippians 1:6)
Saturday, May 21, 2011
More To Come...
I am SUPER excited because I just started reading the book Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper today. So far it has been really good...and I have only read the introduction and the first chapter. Haha. I am hoping to post more about different things that hit me as I read through the book! Stay posted for more thoughts.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Summer Morning Thoughts
For some reason it is still amazing to me how one of the fastest ways to get out of a pattern of self-pity and "sadness"/depression (due to feeling sorry for oneself) is through thinking of others and praying for them. This morning my mom was gone at the chiropractor and out to lunch with a friend; last night I had already planned on cleaning the house while she was gone. I wanted to do this to be a blessing to her and because I knew she would appreciate me helping out since I am a member of this household and need to carry some of the weight of keeping the house clean since I too live here and that is just part of my responsibility.
Well, after she left I turned on the computer and checked email and facebook and as I got caught up on seeing what my friends are doing, I was presented with the options of being content being home by myself with my family for the summer or being discontent because almost all of my best friends are still together getting to tour the East Coast on a choir tour. (There are also other good friends who are not in California right now but are seemingly having a better time than I am.) Yesterday my mom brought up the fact that she hasn't been hearing from me lately about how I'm viewing the glass as half-full this summer but how I have only been talking about the glass being “half-empty” and how she has only really been hearing me talk about how I miss all my friends so much. This was super convicting because I know I must sound like I am not grateful to be home at all…that in and of itself was SUPER convicting and sad to hear said about myself. Just another thing the Lord wants me to work on this summer.
Anyways...back on topic...being the stupid and sinful sheep that is stubborn and can often become bogged down by my flesh because I do not put up the fight to resist these self-pitying thoughts, I gave in to the option of being discontent with not getting to be with my friends and went about cleaning our house with very much a pouting attitude. I didn't mind cleaning and didn't mind serving my family in this way, but I was just put out that I could not be with my friends. Well...I had also turned on the computer so I could listen to Pandora...I put on my station called "Casting Crowns Radio" because I knew that I needed to listen to worship songs and not songs by Michael Buble or Dean Martin, etc. After turning it on there were soooo many songs that came up during my cleaning that totally convicted me of my less-than-God-honoring attitude and reminded me that my satisfaction is not found in my circumstances but in my God alone. Songs like "Praise You in the Storm" by Casting Crowns, "Beautiful One" by Joel Engle, "In Christ Alone," "Love is Not a Fight" by Warren Barfield, "Your Grace is Enough" by Matt Maher, and "God of Wonders" had been popping up. All of them I was singing along to and could not help but feel the tug of the Holy Spirit to praise my God and not be stuck in self-pity.
When I received a text from a friend asking for prayer for finding joy in the Lord as she is busy these next few days with things, I immediately paused the music and prayed for her. This is where my first sentence of this post came into play...praying for her got me off of thinking about myself and what I wish I were doing instead of what I was actually doing. Also, as I prayed for her and asked that the Lord would grant her joy in what she is doing I was reminded of something a friend had written me in a Christmas card this past year; I happened to come across her note while I was unpacking and sorting through all of my papers this week. In her note she said, "I have really appreciated all your timely exhortations; especially during Christmas concerts when I had forgotten why I was making music." (Her statement was in reference to me putting notes of encouragement in her box during my college’s Christmas concerts and reminding her of why the choir was singing and why we were serving people through the concerts.) The friend who texted is going to be doing a lot of singing with a choir this next week and a half so I was reminded of this note from the Christmas card. In singing for other people we need to remember that we sing to bring honor and glory to God and to worship Him. As I sat praying for my friend I teared up remembering one of the main reasons why I want to be in The Master’s Chorale so badly next year…I want to worship the Lord through singing and to create an avenue for those listening to also worship the Lord. I prayed that my friend would find joy in the Lord and that she would "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord...[and] make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise[s]" to Him. (Psalm 98:4...or supposedly...that's the reference my roommate had given me for something but I cannot find that exact version. =P ) I prayed that she would remember Nehemiah 8:10 which says, "For the joy of the Lord is your strength." As well as Lamentations 3...the whole chapter but mainly verses 15-26. We must remember God's mercies are new each morning and that He will give us His joy to strengthen us to make it through each day that we do not feel like battling through.
After I prayed for her and unpaused my music the song "I Can Only Imagine" came on...I love how God orchestrates things and times them perfectly!! I thought of her especially in the chorus of the song:
"Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!"
I love the line "Will I stand in Your presence" and "Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'" It reminded me of The Master’s Chorale as well as Collegiate singing...we are in God's presence at all times...we can, therefore, find joy in singing before Him because although we do not see Him we can know that He is there listening to us and watching us. I know this is hard to remember but when we do remember it we can take joy in singing out our hearts for Him. =] Yeah!
I was also reminded that there are times when we will struggle finding joy in the Lord even if there seems to be no apparent reason. This is when we need to remember the truth of 1 Peter 5:6-9, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." It is during those times when we feel down that we need to take our thoughts captive and strive all the harder to set our minds on things above. (Colossians 3:1-3) I still do not know how to exactly combat these times of feeling stuck in a rut of being down but I know I need to fight them all the same.
To close...the song that came up right after "I Can Only Imagine" was "Enough" by Chris Tomlin and I was soooo convicted!!! I know that I have not been finding my all in Christ lately. I have been wishing and hoping for things that God has obviously taken out of my life at this point this summer. And I know He has done this for the purpose of bringing me closer to Him. In listening to this song and singing along I was having a hard time singing all of the words and being totally truthful in them..."All of You is more than enough for all of me/For every thirst and every need/You satisfy me with Your love/And all I have in You is more than enough." Especially the last line was hard. *Sigh* I am sooo thankful that God is patience and merciful with us and that He does not give up on us when we fail. It's such a beautiful picture of forgiveness!! =] I love how when we surrender ourselves and our wills that He takes them and molds them into His. I just pray that I will continually fight to do this every minute, every hour, and every day of my life. When I come close to truly understanding/comprehending the Gospel, that is when I am filled with total joy and satisfaction. I only wish I dwelt on it more. I am so grateful the Lord afforded me the opportunity to pray for a good friend this morning and gave me the opportunity to think of someone else besides myself. =] Praise Him!!!
Well, after she left I turned on the computer and checked email and facebook and as I got caught up on seeing what my friends are doing, I was presented with the options of being content being home by myself with my family for the summer or being discontent because almost all of my best friends are still together getting to tour the East Coast on a choir tour. (There are also other good friends who are not in California right now but are seemingly having a better time than I am.) Yesterday my mom brought up the fact that she hasn't been hearing from me lately about how I'm viewing the glass as half-full this summer but how I have only been talking about the glass being “half-empty” and how she has only really been hearing me talk about how I miss all my friends so much. This was super convicting because I know I must sound like I am not grateful to be home at all…that in and of itself was SUPER convicting and sad to hear said about myself. Just another thing the Lord wants me to work on this summer.
Anyways...back on topic...being the stupid and sinful sheep that is stubborn and can often become bogged down by my flesh because I do not put up the fight to resist these self-pitying thoughts, I gave in to the option of being discontent with not getting to be with my friends and went about cleaning our house with very much a pouting attitude. I didn't mind cleaning and didn't mind serving my family in this way, but I was just put out that I could not be with my friends. Well...I had also turned on the computer so I could listen to Pandora...I put on my station called "Casting Crowns Radio" because I knew that I needed to listen to worship songs and not songs by Michael Buble or Dean Martin, etc. After turning it on there were soooo many songs that came up during my cleaning that totally convicted me of my less-than-God-honoring attitude and reminded me that my satisfaction is not found in my circumstances but in my God alone. Songs like "Praise You in the Storm" by Casting Crowns, "Beautiful One" by Joel Engle, "In Christ Alone," "Love is Not a Fight" by Warren Barfield, "Your Grace is Enough" by Matt Maher, and "God of Wonders" had been popping up. All of them I was singing along to and could not help but feel the tug of the Holy Spirit to praise my God and not be stuck in self-pity.
When I received a text from a friend asking for prayer for finding joy in the Lord as she is busy these next few days with things, I immediately paused the music and prayed for her. This is where my first sentence of this post came into play...praying for her got me off of thinking about myself and what I wish I were doing instead of what I was actually doing. Also, as I prayed for her and asked that the Lord would grant her joy in what she is doing I was reminded of something a friend had written me in a Christmas card this past year; I happened to come across her note while I was unpacking and sorting through all of my papers this week. In her note she said, "I have really appreciated all your timely exhortations; especially during Christmas concerts when I had forgotten why I was making music." (Her statement was in reference to me putting notes of encouragement in her box during my college’s Christmas concerts and reminding her of why the choir was singing and why we were serving people through the concerts.) The friend who texted is going to be doing a lot of singing with a choir this next week and a half so I was reminded of this note from the Christmas card. In singing for other people we need to remember that we sing to bring honor and glory to God and to worship Him. As I sat praying for my friend I teared up remembering one of the main reasons why I want to be in The Master’s Chorale so badly next year…I want to worship the Lord through singing and to create an avenue for those listening to also worship the Lord. I prayed that my friend would find joy in the Lord and that she would "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord...[and] make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise[s]" to Him. (Psalm 98:4...or supposedly...that's the reference my roommate had given me for something but I cannot find that exact version. =P ) I prayed that she would remember Nehemiah 8:10 which says, "For the joy of the Lord is your strength." As well as Lamentations 3...the whole chapter but mainly verses 15-26. We must remember God's mercies are new each morning and that He will give us His joy to strengthen us to make it through each day that we do not feel like battling through.
After I prayed for her and unpaused my music the song "I Can Only Imagine" came on...I love how God orchestrates things and times them perfectly!! I thought of her especially in the chorus of the song:
"Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!"
I love the line "Will I stand in Your presence" and "Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'" It reminded me of The Master’s Chorale as well as Collegiate singing...we are in God's presence at all times...we can, therefore, find joy in singing before Him because although we do not see Him we can know that He is there listening to us and watching us. I know this is hard to remember but when we do remember it we can take joy in singing out our hearts for Him. =] Yeah!
I was also reminded that there are times when we will struggle finding joy in the Lord even if there seems to be no apparent reason. This is when we need to remember the truth of 1 Peter 5:6-9, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." It is during those times when we feel down that we need to take our thoughts captive and strive all the harder to set our minds on things above. (Colossians 3:1-3) I still do not know how to exactly combat these times of feeling stuck in a rut of being down but I know I need to fight them all the same.
To close...the song that came up right after "I Can Only Imagine" was "Enough" by Chris Tomlin and I was soooo convicted!!! I know that I have not been finding my all in Christ lately. I have been wishing and hoping for things that God has obviously taken out of my life at this point this summer. And I know He has done this for the purpose of bringing me closer to Him. In listening to this song and singing along I was having a hard time singing all of the words and being totally truthful in them..."All of You is more than enough for all of me/For every thirst and every need/You satisfy me with Your love/And all I have in You is more than enough." Especially the last line was hard. *Sigh* I am sooo thankful that God is patience and merciful with us and that He does not give up on us when we fail. It's such a beautiful picture of forgiveness!! =] I love how when we surrender ourselves and our wills that He takes them and molds them into His. I just pray that I will continually fight to do this every minute, every hour, and every day of my life. When I come close to truly understanding/comprehending the Gospel, that is when I am filled with total joy and satisfaction. I only wish I dwelt on it more. I am so grateful the Lord afforded me the opportunity to pray for a good friend this morning and gave me the opportunity to think of someone else besides myself. =] Praise Him!!!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Encouragement from May 1, 2011
Today’s church sermon was on Colossians 3:5-11 and it was super convicting! In verse 5 of chapter 3 it says “put to death” (which is the equivalent to “mortify” or completely cut off) “what is earthly in you.” Paul then goes on to lists different sins all of which boil down to the heart issue of idolatry. Idolatry and selfishness lead to all kinds of sins because you are looking out for yourself. When we sin we are essentially saying that we do not believe there is a God or that we know better than Him. If this is the case, who then are we really worshipping? Ourselves!! If we think our plan is better than God’s we have a problem! All sin is something that must be put to death and put away from us. I love the reasons my pastor pulled out from verses 6-10 of why would should put sin to death; they are 1) Sin brings the wrath of God, 2) Sin belongs to the believer’s past, 3) Sin has already been put off and paid for, and 4) Sin has no control in the renewed life. Because of this we can and must walk differently that our old selves!
When we repent from our sins and when we are redeemed in Christ we see a transformation of our wills, a new attitude of the mind, and a radical shift from self to Christ. Everybody deals with sin! Sin just manifests itself differently in each person’s life. Therefore, we all need to be in this fight together! We must be praying for each other and encouraging one another to fight the fight and never give up. If we continue this fight against sin for the honor and glory of God we will one day hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)
In struggling with sin and fighting the temptation to doubt God and to doubt His plan we must remember that He can and will help us. We merely need to “commit [our] way to the Lord; [we need to] trust in Him, and He will act.” (Psalm 37:5)
Look at the two previous posts of the following songs were really encouraging to me this evening…you should read the lyrics and listen to them both!
When we repent from our sins and when we are redeemed in Christ we see a transformation of our wills, a new attitude of the mind, and a radical shift from self to Christ. Everybody deals with sin! Sin just manifests itself differently in each person’s life. Therefore, we all need to be in this fight together! We must be praying for each other and encouraging one another to fight the fight and never give up. If we continue this fight against sin for the honor and glory of God we will one day hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)
In struggling with sin and fighting the temptation to doubt God and to doubt His plan we must remember that He can and will help us. We merely need to “commit [our] way to the Lord; [we need to] trust in Him, and He will act.” (Psalm 37:5)
Look at the two previous posts of the following songs were really encouraging to me this evening…you should read the lyrics and listen to them both!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
I Need You
I Need You
by The Swift
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-uobE0_3dg
My heart is restless in me
My wings are all worn out
I’m walking in the wilderness
And I cannot get out
I need You, oh I need You
Blessed savior come
I need You, oh I need You
Fill the every longing of my soul
Oh how I need You Lord
I need Your perfect word
With tearful eyes I see
The sin that I afford
I need to weep and pray
For all the thousand ways
That I have failed You just today
And my bed is soaked with sadness
My sadness has no end
A downward spiral of despair
That I keep falling in
I need You, oh I need You
To You my soul shall fly
I need You, oh I need You
Yahweh how I love you more than life
Oh how I need You Lord
I need Your perfect word
With tearful eyes I see
The sin that I afford
I need to weep and pray
For all the thousand ways
That I have failed You just today
Your silence is like death to me
So won’t You hear my desperate plea
Today my soul is soaring
Way over mountains high
Though I can see the valleys
They are all just passing by
Its not that I am stronger
Look at my feeble wings
But I’ve been lifted higher
Yahweh’s lifted me in His own strength
Oh how I love You Lord
I love your perfect word
With tearful eyes I see
The God who always will endure
Now I will celebrate
For all the thousand ways
That you have shown me grace
And made my heart in grace to stay
You made my heart in grace to stay
Lord, make my heart in grace to stay
I need You, oh I need You
Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy towards me!!
by The Swift
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-uobE0_3dg
My heart is restless in me
My wings are all worn out
I’m walking in the wilderness
And I cannot get out
I need You, oh I need You
Blessed savior come
I need You, oh I need You
Fill the every longing of my soul
Oh how I need You Lord
I need Your perfect word
With tearful eyes I see
The sin that I afford
I need to weep and pray
For all the thousand ways
That I have failed You just today
And my bed is soaked with sadness
My sadness has no end
A downward spiral of despair
That I keep falling in
I need You, oh I need You
To You my soul shall fly
I need You, oh I need You
Yahweh how I love you more than life
Oh how I need You Lord
I need Your perfect word
With tearful eyes I see
The sin that I afford
I need to weep and pray
For all the thousand ways
That I have failed You just today
Your silence is like death to me
So won’t You hear my desperate plea
Today my soul is soaring
Way over mountains high
Though I can see the valleys
They are all just passing by
Its not that I am stronger
Look at my feeble wings
But I’ve been lifted higher
Yahweh’s lifted me in His own strength
Oh how I love You Lord
I love your perfect word
With tearful eyes I see
The God who always will endure
Now I will celebrate
For all the thousand ways
That you have shown me grace
And made my heart in grace to stay
You made my heart in grace to stay
Lord, make my heart in grace to stay
I need You, oh I need You
Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy towards me!!
Christ is Risen
Christ is Risen
by Matt Maher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jgDHSLgNr8
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but Heaven's will
No scheme of Hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night
Sing it, o death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He's alive, He's alive
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Rise up from the grave
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~1 Corinthians 15:56-57~
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing…Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ out Lord!” ~Romans 7:15, 18-19, 24-25~
by Matt Maher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jgDHSLgNr8
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but Heaven's will
No scheme of Hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night
Sing it, o death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He's alive, He's alive
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Rise up from the grave
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~1 Corinthians 15:56-57~
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing…Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ out Lord!” ~Romans 7:15, 18-19, 24-25~
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