Caught Tears

Anyone else ever have those moments where everything is perfect? Right until it isn't?


I'm so grateful for my Saviour.


I rejoice in the truth shared in Revelation 21 when I learn that someday there will be no more tears, or mourning, or crying or pain because the old order (this world that is filled with sin) will have been passed away.


I gain comfort from Psalm 56 where I learn that the Lord keeps track of my tears. That's a big job.


I take a small ounce of peace in knowing that I am not the only one who mourns areas of life. I can look at David in numerous places (or Psalm 6 or Psalm 25 or basically any other Psalm - let's be honest, David was an emotional dude) or a lot of that comfort from Jesus (in Matthew 14) when scripture shares that Jesus mourned a death of a friend.


I can take deep joy in knowing that Jesus walked through all I walk through and remained faithful until the very end and beyond.


    Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
(1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV)


I take comfort in Christ.


I take my comfort in Jesus because Jesus is my sustenance. He is my daily bread and my lifetime friend.


    Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
(Matthew 7:9 ESV)


God is not in the habit of handing out stones. God is faithful to fulfill His promises. His biggest promise (I would say) is grace.


Grace is overwhelming.


I need it so much.


Tonight I whispered to God,


"God, I'm not quite sure why this is happening" and He said, "Relax, I know what's going on".


Thank you Lord. I'm going to keep trusting in God for all these issues that burden my heart today.


    But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
        will enter your house.
    I will bow down toward your holy temple
        in the fear of you.
(Psalm 5:7 ESV)

(non) Grumpy Hearts

This morning's prayer:

Me: God, do you think we could go like, a few days or something without you teaching me something or revealing a new sin issue?

God: Um, maybe when that isn't your prayer anymore we can think about it.
 
Me: hm ... you're right. Wow, good job on convicting my heart even while I'm praying to you.


God: Yeah, I know. 

I keep waiting to be let out of this season of constant conviction, consistent need for change, and growing need for Jesus. Yet I also never want to be let out of this because I'll always need more Jesus, there are always sin issues that desperately need the transforming work of the Holy Spirit through grace, and I'm one hundred percent positive that God is never going to be done showing sweet conviction to my heart.

At my new job, there is a verse that sits (very strategically I think) above the dishes area.

It reads:

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 
(Colossians 3:23)

That's my prayer for (most) everything right now.

That I would work willingly at whatever I do.

Because I am working for the Lord.

We're working for the Lord so let's do it without grumbling or complaining. (Do all things without grumbling or disputing - Philippians 2:14 ESV - it's in the Bible, so let's just go ahead and do all thing without grumpy hearts)

This morning as I did the dishes and looked at that verse, I had a verse float through my mind -

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
(James 5:13 ESV)

Life is golden for me right now. I have a new job, new roommate, and lots of other good stuff going on. God's given me some freedom in areas where I was holding onto my chains. He's broken free a lot of stuff that had been shut in for far too long. I opened up to some friends about sin issues in my life, and that is always a good thing - hidden sin remains growing sin while exposed sin must be dealt with. Sweet conviction is covering my every move it seems - and that wasn't pride speaking, that was gratefulness for grace speaking.

So I'm cheerful.

Why am I joyful? Because I love Jesus.

So I'm going to sing some praise.

Life of Pages

This morning, I was chatting with a friend who lives hours and hours away. Does anyone else just get blown away by technology sometimes? Like - think about a telephone. Wow. Praise God!

Anyways, we were talking about our lives. And I was talking about the whirlwind my summer job situation has been. I have one starting tomorrow, but it really took a lot of time, prayer, patience and trust to get to this point.

I said a line at one point that made me want to come here today and write about it.

Sometimes I stress about things and God says, “why are you worrying about that - just wait a couple pages. I’ve got your whole book up here”.

God’s perspective is beautiful and huge and HUGE and HUGE and HUGE! I needed to write that a few times to just really emphasize His vast presence. God knows what is going on. He know the behind the scenes, around of the scenes, and the hundred thousand years from now scenes.

The places I’m in, the experiences I’m going through, the good and the bad, it’s all just a page. God’s got my whole book in His hands. It’s pretty inspiring and heart warming (and to be honest, super overwhelming) to think about it.

God is huge and wonderful and big and perfect.

So today I’m choosing to trust in His plan.

My plan, in comparison, really is the worst.

My plan consists of today, a little bit of tomorrow, and fake days after that.

God’s plan consists of yesterday, today, and forever. Wowzas.

I live a life of pages. God's font, writing, and spacing.

Word Pictures

“There’s something sacred about reading a blog post on someone else’s site. It’s like visiting a friend’s house for a quick meal ’round the breakfast table. It’s personal—you’re in their space, and the environment is uniquely suited for idea exchange and uninterrupted conversation. In many ways, we should be treating our blogs like our breakfast tables. Be welcoming & gracious when you host, and kind & respectful when visiting.” – Trent Walton

I read that quote on a blog today. I think it is such a beautiful word picture of what I want my blog to be. I want it to be welcoming and filled with words of wisdom to share with you on your journey, wherever you are. I always want to write words that have purpose and meaning, sharing the joys and sorrows, always centered on my deep and sincere love and pursuit of Christ.

What is yet to come? You'd better believe that I have no idea. The only idea I have is the truth, that Christ is real. He's real, and He is going to do work in my heart. I know that because He is far more consistent than Vancouver rain.

 

Psalm 96

Psalm 96 (this style)

Supplementary verses (this style)

    Oh sing to the LORD a new song; 

Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 

Psalm 98:1 

    sing to the LORD, all the earth! 

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 

Mark 16:15 

    Sing to the LORD, bless his name;  

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. 

Psalm 29:2 

    tell of his salvation from day to day. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 

Isaiah 52:7 

    Declare his glory among the nations, 

O Lord, open my lips  and my mouth will declare your praise. 

Psalm 51:15 

    his marvelous works among all the peoples! 

As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. 

Job 5:8-11 

    For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;  

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5 

    he is to be feared above all gods. 

For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

Psalm 135:5-7   

    For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,  

Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.

Isaiah 44:6-7 

    but the LORD made the heavens. 

For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.

Psalm 33:4-7 

    Splendor and majesty are before him;  

If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.

Job 31:24-28 

    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Proverbs 30:5 

    Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, 

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.

Psalm 22:27-28 

    ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21 

    Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; 

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:12-13   

    bring an offering, and come into his courts! 

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100  

    Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; 

The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 

Psalm 93:1  

    tremble before him, all the earth! 

Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these [speaking of his disciples and followers] were silent, the very stones would cry out.” 

Luke 19:40  

    Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! 

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 46:10 

    Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;  

Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:28-29 

    he will judge the peoples with equity.” 

The LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. 

Psalm 9:7-10 

    Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;  

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

1 Peter 4:12-14 

    let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! 

Psalm 8:9  

    let the field exult, and everything in it! 

Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. 

Psalm 5:11  

    Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 

For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12 

    before the LORD, for he comes, 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 

    for he comes to judge the earth.  

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 

Isaiah 53:4-5 

    He will judge the world in righteousness, 

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:8 

    and the peoples in his faithfulness. 

But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

2 Timothy 2:19

As I've been reading and reflecting over these verses tonight, this last two verses sum up my thoughts:

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 8:3-4