Just jotted down number 623 on my journey to counting 1,000 things I love, thanks Ann Voskamp, and wanted to share a few. I think I'll keep going for forever though. It's amazing how much it's already affected me in powerful ways. So good.
233. attempting others' accents
242. smell of sun-dried laundry
261. how the gift brings the giver
270. that we are invited to come as we are
306. finding the perfect birthday card for someone
312. seeing a shooting star
321. eating at local restaurants
329. unexpected conversations
342. people-watching at airports
361. not having a clue what I'm eating but that it's good
374. non-morning people in the morning
384. drinking bottled pop
427. witnessing three sunsets in a row
454. riding bikes in Shanghai traffic
522. the reflection of a wooden dock on water
561. a competitive game of cards
576. watching fires burn
590. summer nights
600. Therefore. God doesn't deliver ultimatums. Everything He asks of us is in light of what He's already done in us.
624? in progress..
Friday, June 15, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
[peace: the absence of worry]
My devotion tonight mentioned 2 Thessalonians 3:16 - "May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way." And it got me thinking about how peace seems to change meaning as it changes context.
For my friends from South Sudan, peace is no more fighting. No more death over land. Over resources. Over cows and power and religion and differences. For them, peace is the absence of war.
For friends from large, multi-millioned-people, cities, peace is quiet country silence away from the crowds and heat and crazy busyness of all that cities thrive on. For them, peace is the absence of poeple.
And God? The peace He is talking about here in 2 Thessalonians? I suppose I should go look up the original in Greek to get more meaning, but tonight I'm just going to take it at it's English translation. And to me, I sense the peace talked about here is simply a quiet heart and mind for once. It's a deep sense of confidence not in this world but in the God who made it. It's a trust that everything will work out. That life in all of its ups and downs is good. That this is not the end. Tonight, peace is the absence of worry for me.
I know it might change tomorrow. But tonight it's a quiet assurance that all is right in the world because my God's in control. Sure there is lots to be done, lots of hurt, lots of need. But Easter has already arrived. We declare every day Easter, because Satan's already toast.
For my friends from South Sudan, peace is no more fighting. No more death over land. Over resources. Over cows and power and religion and differences. For them, peace is the absence of war.
For friends from large, multi-millioned-people, cities, peace is quiet country silence away from the crowds and heat and crazy busyness of all that cities thrive on. For them, peace is the absence of poeple.
And God? The peace He is talking about here in 2 Thessalonians? I suppose I should go look up the original in Greek to get more meaning, but tonight I'm just going to take it at it's English translation. And to me, I sense the peace talked about here is simply a quiet heart and mind for once. It's a deep sense of confidence not in this world but in the God who made it. It's a trust that everything will work out. That life in all of its ups and downs is good. That this is not the end. Tonight, peace is the absence of worry for me.
I know it might change tomorrow. But tonight it's a quiet assurance that all is right in the world because my God's in control. Sure there is lots to be done, lots of hurt, lots of need. But Easter has already arrived. We declare every day Easter, because Satan's already toast.
Friday, June 1, 2012
[how awesome is the Lord most high]
This morning Oswald Chambers' devotion in My Utmost For His Highest really strikes me. He writes:
"It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we mistake panic for inspiration. That is why there are so few fellow workers with God and so many workers for Him. We would far rather work for God than believe in Him. Am I quite sure that God will do what I cannot?"
Dang. Am I confident that God will pull through, or am I busy going about my own way of trying to do His work my way?
Reminds me of a verse that came up in conversation the other night but also came to mind this morning:
"With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness." [2 Peter 3:8-9]
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promises. He is not slow in doing what He said He'd do. He is not late. He is not early. He has not forgotten, and He is not in panic-mode or trouble.
This is a God who has steadily revealed, proclaimed and carried out what He said He'd do since the fall of man - restore the earth and redeem people from every tribe, tongue, nation and language.
With willing and unwilling hearts, inspite of unfaithful people, in the midst and through broken lives, God has humiliated Satan with the cross and open grave, given us an everlasting example in Christ for how we are to live and provided a way to be made right with Him without compromising His holiness.
God didn't ease up on His requirements because we couldn't match them. He provided a way through the cross of Christ. And He doesn't need us to see His promises come true. But He uses the willing if we will stop trying to do it our way. That's the God I'm following. And I want to see Him work if I will just get out of the way.
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