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| I like the lyrics to this Song by Mercy Me:
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
Also, related to that, we heard this quote yesterday at church:
"Difficulties alone are not an indication of cross-bearing, but difficulties for Christ are."
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| I'm sitting in my room and I heard my dad just say, "Ruthie, can you catch this fly? We need to catch it before it lays eggs..."
I just thought it was a funny...
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| A few nights ago, Harrison, Anna and I were studying from 1 John and we came across the 1 John 2:15-17 part that reads:
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world the love the Father is not in him. For everything in the world---the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does---comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
We recall that "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15). This passage in 1 John lists three things that represent sin. Namely 1) the lust of the flesh 2) the lust of the eye and 3) the pride of life.
When Jesus was taken into the desert to be tempted, he experienced the lust of the flesh. He was hungry after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. He had a fleshly, physical desire for food.
"The tempter came to him and said, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stoens to become bread.' Jesus answered, 'It is written:'Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:3-4)
Jesus overcame this first test by having an eternal perspective and claiming that we are not mere animals, but spiritual beings whose deepest need is not food, but God.
He also experienced the lust of the eye.
"Again, the devil took him to a very high moutain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 'All this I will give you,' he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me.' Jesus said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" (Matthew 4:6-10)
The devil showed him the splendor of the world. He pointed him to a promise, a type of kingship that seemed grand enough. However, Jesus overcame this test by recognizing the evil in putting anything above God himself, no matter how appealing or glamourous the draw. By chasing after the lust of our eyes, we will undoubtedly make idols of our cravings and become slaves of the things that we put our hope in.
Lastly, Jesus Christ experienced the temptation of pride.
"'If you are the Son of God,' [the devil] said, 'throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concering you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your food against a stone.' Jesus answered him, 'It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (Matthew 4:5-7)
By Satan prompting Jesus to throw himself down, he was essentially casting doubt on God's word. This temptation rings of a similar tune found back in the garden of Eden in which Satan spoke to Eve with words such as, "Did God really say..." and "You will not surely die for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God..." (Genesis 3). In the Eden episode, the serpent challenged Eve to put God to the test. The serpent persuaded her by appealing to her pride and desire to be "like God" in gaining wisdom despite the fact that God clearly forbade eating the fruit from this tree.
Jesus was tempted by the devil to throw himself down to see if God's promises were really true. If Jesus caved in, perhaps he may have very well been attended by angels (in the same way that Adam and Eve's eyes were in fact opened). But over and above this seemingly innocent test, Jesus held resolutely to God's commands. He was determined to trust and obey God, and God alone. He let God be soveriegn. He let him be God---the only one who could direct his decisions.
Our pride makes us forget our need to submit to God. It makes us forget that we have a holy God. It makes us forget that He is the Potter and we are the clay. Pride tells us that we should be God, rather than servants of God. It was for the reason of pride that Lucifer was cast out of heaven. In the temptation of pride, Jesus, "who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped." (Philippians 2). What a profound statement. Do you see what an example we have if even Jesus, of whom least it would be considered prideful to "test" God, still chose to submit anyway? How much more ought we to humble ourselves before God?
Since pride is the root of many various sins, I wanted to share with you one last thing on it. It is a poem written by Beth Moore (I think). It really makes you think and puts an interesting perspective on things...
My name is Pride. I am a cheater
I cheat you of your God-given destiny . . . because you demand your own way
I cheat you of contentment . . . because you "deserve better than this."
I cheat you of knowledge . . . because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing . . . because you're too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness . . . because you refuse to admit when you're wrong.
I cheat you of vision . . . because you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship . . . because nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love . . . because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven . . . because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.
I cheat you of God's glory . . . because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you. Untrue.
I'm looking to make a fool of you
God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry . . . If you stick with me
You'll never know.
In conclusion, I found it neat how John really just lays it out so neatly and how it paralleled to the experience of Jesus' own temptation on the mountain. In light of these categories, where do you see yourself battling today? (Because we recall that our flesh is constantly waging war against our spirit if we are born in Christ.)
Are you struggling with lust of the flesh in terms of lacking control over your sexual appetite or over your eating habits? Perhaps you are struggling with a craving to sleep more than you need to which leads to life of slothfulness?
Are you struggling with lust of the eyes? Can you not seem to get out of your mind the notion of attaining money, worldly success, or the perfect body image? What are you spending all your time and energy on? Is it on a promise that gives true life?
Do you struggle with pride? Are you thinking too highly of yourself or perhaps your own "spiritual maturity"? Do you find yourself stubborning unyielding in a conflict with a friend of yours? Are you waiting around for someone to meet your needs instead of extending your hands out to others?
Lord, help us to overcome sin, as you overcame every temptation. Now that we are aware of the pitfalls, lead us on a straight path, so we don't become victim to these things. We cannot do it alone. We need you, God. We don't intent to fight against such an enemy without your hand. God, this Easter as we recall how you overcame even death, we cling to the hope that you give us true life. The reason these things are sin, the reason they are wrong, is because ultimately, they lead to the grave. But God, you came to bring eternal life as your word says (John 6:40). You are good and you want to bless us. Help us to trust you and know you, so that we will not be hindered or led astray in this race. We know that when we fix our gaze on you, we can walk in confidence and assurance. Thank you for being our hope---"the author and perfector of our faith" (Hebrews 12). In Jesus name, amen.
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| Gooooooooood Morning, World! :P I slept so well last night and I have a small testimony about my sound sleep. I had not been sleeping well for the past week or so and this could be due to several reasons: 1) The time change 2) Finding a mouse in my room 3) Hearing footsteps and strange sounds at night by my door 4) Thinking about too much stuff going on right now 5) Feeling fearful, even though I know better (this is both literally and spiritually in the sense of fully trusting the Lord) Anyway, last night at our small group, I told them how I was having trouble sleeping and afterwards we prayed about it. And even though they laughed a little when I brought the matter up (especially when I told them about the mouse and being scared), they nonetheless were so fervernt in praying for me about this issue afterwards. My friend Anna, offered up a specific prayer about sleeping peacefully beginning "tonight"---that is, last night. When she said that, and I was listening to all these prayers go up over this tiny, tiny, almost silly little thing, I felt confident in my heart that surely the Lord would grant this because we prayed for it. As I prepared to go to bed that night, I felt so sure that I would sleep soundly. Sure enough, I woke up this morning feeling so peaceful and rested and HAPPY! Now some of you might say that's just coincidence. But if you knew how much out of my control it has been to sleep soundly, you would realize that truly, a good night's rest was a gift from God. Simple as that, we petitioned to the Lord, and he granted me exactly what I had asked for just because he loves me and cares for me. :) I don't ever want to not give God credit where it is due. Even if only one person reads this entry, at least it is better that He is glorified than that I keep this blessing to myself. Be blessed today because He lives! | | |
| Just a little something, something I wrote... An Account Something has been stirring in my heart these past couple weeks and now I know why. For the past ten days, I've come back to hear Mr. John talk. He is strange man. They say he grew up as sorta nomatic hermit since his parents died while he was still young. My friends and I had heard about him and sometimes would say to each other, "I saw that crazy Mr. John guy again today." He always managed to gather a crowd. I was always too busy to stop, but I figured one day my curiousity would overtake me. So finally, I made time and became determined to stop and listen. That was ten days ago. I know why I listened this time and not before. I listened because of what was going on in my life. In short--nothing. I hate to get all philosophical. My friends tell me sometimes that I think too much and don't enjoy life enough. But to tell you the truth, I was bored with my life. I had perfected my daily routines and I felt like I reached that point of adulthood where I knew enough to understand how life works and the best way to get through it. But as I lay in bed one night, I felt sad for no reason. I felt empty and I wanted something to eat. So I ate. I got up and binged on some leftover bread from dinner. I wasn't actually hungry, but it felt better to just chew, ya know? As I was chewing away, I tried to think "happy thoughts". I thought about all those one-liners in conversations with my friends that made me roll on the ground in laughter before. They made me smile while I was sitting there--alone. But after a few short seconds, I felt the weight of my mouth muscles drop to a solemn grin and then back to that hollow emptiness. That's when that crazy Mr. John guy popped into my head. I thought about what he must do after he goes home. I wonder if he felt the same way I did after the crowd left him. That's it. I resolved to go see him the next day. I figured, at the very least, it would be interesting. Afterall, what was there to lose? When I got there, I stood with my arms crossed more concerned about being uncomfortable than hearing what he was saying. The sun was shining bright, but the wind made it chilly enough to be noticeable. I looked around and thought about what kind of people must be coming here. There were all kinds of people. There were grandmas and grandpas, people my age, and parents with their children. There was even a boy standing alone by a rock who looked about 12-ish and he was listening intently. I felt a little embarassed that this kid was outdoing me in paying attention, so I started to focus more. As I heard Mr. John speak, I was drawn to what he was saying. I moved closer not because I couldn't hear him well enough, but because I wanted to. I wanted to see his face as he spoke. I don't know exactly how to explain it, but it's like this: Whenever he says something, no matter how crazy it sounds when I try to reiterate it to my friends, when HE says it, you just don't question it. He speaks with power and with a confidence that is not self-smug. It's a kind of confidence that is rock solid---like he really knows what he is talking about, but not showing off. Of course I came in with a lot of skepticism, but everything he said was really true and really profound and I began to trust his reliability. I came back again and again. When he said things, even though I did not know exactly what he meant, there was something inside me saying "yes!". It doesn't make sense, right? But literally, sometimes my heart would start beating faster and I would even get a little flushed. I would get excited and the hours would pass like minutes. I can't believe I was so interested in something and it felt good to be made alive again. The things He spoke about was more than just the next dose of entertainment, he probed at some of my deepest questions---quesitons I did not even realize I had. I can be an emotional person sometimes, so I worried about that. I worried that I was getting too emotionally involved in this and letting this one man's words mess me up. But actually, when I thought about it, his words were not draining me (as my emotions often do), but instead, they were sparking a fire in me--a hope. He talked about vague things that were going to happen. And I felt like what he said was true. I know you aren't suppose to think like that because of course, everyone feels like they are the center of the universe when they are going through life, but I dunno. It felt bigger than the universe. It felt true and although I sought to find error, none of his words proved falacious as far as my knowledge and experiences had taken me. As he taught, my heart longed and yearned more and more to hear the end of the story he seemed to be telling. After every one of his talks, I went home feeling like I needed to change my life. It was making me into a different person. So many things made sense when he spoke and he said things bluntly but not condemningly. Actually, I cried a couple times because after his talks, even though he had no idea who I was, I felt like he pinpointed so many issues I had buried in my past. I remembered old wounds that I had not revisted in years. Here I was just a week ago thinking my life was perfect and that I knew everything. Now after hearing this man speak, I realized how wrong of an impression I had built. I had SO many questions and so few answers. I felt a little helpless at times knowing that there is no way I could save myself from just everything my eyes had now been opened to. Although on the outside my friends thought I was miserable since I cried more often and wanted to be alone more often, actually, I felt satisfied. It was refreshing to be around Mr. John and I could honestly care less about what strange ideas people said about him. Now that I began listening to him, I realized, this guy was something special. It's almost like he had some deep magic or something. Not in the witchcraft type of way, but like something completely divine and spiritual. I didn't see a glow around him, but if it showed up, I would not be surprised. I don't want to admit it, but I think deep down, I wanted Mr. John to be my god---the one I worshiped. I would follow him and gladly feed him or host him if he needed a place to stay just ot hear him say a few intelligible words. I was hungrier than ever---much more than that night while lying in bed. The odd thing was, Mr. John made it strikingly clear that his role was limited. He always said what he had to say and nothing more, nothing less. He was adamant about not pretending to be something that he was not. I trusted his words and respected him for this, although I must say, I was a bit disheartened since He himself was not the answer I had been searching for. What I became sure of was that something cosmic, something far beyond me was going on---and though I could not understand it, I wanted to be a part of it. Then one day, Mr. John was speaking in his usual manner of voice, and he paused and stared off into the distance where there was a man walking by. I looked where he was looking, then back at his face again. I actually was frightened because I was confused by his look. My instinct was to think that something was wrong with Mr. John's health and he was going to fall over or something right at that instant. Before I could ask him if he was alright, he proclaimed in such a loud voice that it made me jump, "Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" I wooshed my head to the place where his finger was pointing and at least five different emotions burned in my heart. I don't think I blinked for at least a minute. Slowly, I stood up like in a daze, and any other sound around me suddenly faded. Then, all the feelings that were stirring inside me became still and boiled down to one: Joy. Inexpressible joy. And I ran towards that man.... Joy to the world, the Lord has come, Let earth recieve her King. Let every heart, prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing Merry Christmas! He has come! "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us..." John 1:14 | | |
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