In traffic, where there once was rage, there is peace.
In long stretches of endless road, where there once was anxiety, there is boundless joy.
Over the hum of cycling rubber, there is loud praise.
Where my voice was once silent, I now speak audibly to The One who always hears.
In a well-used five-thousand dollar coupe, The Spirit of The Living God abides with me.
He makes the ordinary extraordinary.
He made the tents of my forefathers in faith His dwelling place, and now He is willing and content to make my car a sanctuary.
How beautiful is His presence!
It is transformative.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
The Purpose
[From my first journal entry... This was post traveling for about 15ish hours... Location: a squeaky bunk bed in La Romana, Dominican Republic]
"Wow. Today feels like so much. God is such a good protector; despite my mild anxieties, we arrived in La Romana without a hitch. I'm still so fascinated by flying; it's so surreal, and everything is so beautiful. It's a whole new perspective.
That's part of what this trip is, a perspective change.
There is so much newness! I'm in a country with a foreign language. ( I now am even more sympathetic with the foreign language speakers in my home country.) God is giving me new eyes.
Our devotional tonight is from Revelation 21:5; Jesus proclaims, "Look! I am making everything new!" I believe at times, Jesus doesn't necessarily make the "things" new; I believe, he changes us. We now see or are reminded in our soul and spirit to see the world as Jesus does. Jesus looks on everything with love; He is one with the Father. The Father, God, is love! He is love's personification, and He cannot be separated from it. His love is furious, penetrating, unending, enduring, passionate, consuming, relentless, and it is the most beautiful thing I have ever and will ever encounter!
For me to be effective this week, or ever in life, I must keep this love at the forefront of my mind. It's crazy how my sinful flesh can drag me away from the always refreshing always newly exciting and amazing love of Christ. That is the fight of the flesh though; satan, the ultimate deceiver and father of all lies will attempt at all times to draw us away from the beautiful love of Christ. It is truly a daily struggle to fight, but we must fight in the knowledge that our battles have already been won.
Christ does not call us from the other side of our battle either. He stands with us, intercedes for us, and He fights on our behalf. When we are weary and weak, we can rest in the promise that He is strong in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we are enfeebled, He is empowered. When we are tired, He is tireless. When we are feeling hopeless, He is our hope (Hebrews 6:19). When we lose faith, He is ever faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).
Psalm 23 reminds us that though we fight, we fight with mere shadows. ("Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...") The psalmist also writes, "I will fear no evil, for You [The Lord] are with me." God doesn't wait for us to come out of the valley; He joins us in it. He cannot abandon His beloved children. Also, if we have the ultimate light, Christ, with us, the shadows that attempt to haunt us have no choice but to flee!
[[Props to Jason Polk for teaching on this at The Orchard one night. It's been such an encouragement.]]
Jesus is exactly what we need, always! Only He can satisfy the depths of our soul with His boundless love. He can satisfy the needs of everyone we meet and minister to this week. We will eventually leave and have been like a wave in the sea to them. However, if we go to them under the authority and clothed in the love of Christ, His love will never leave them. This is not to say our time here is fruitless, but it is to say, that unless we leave the true love and peace of Christ, our efforts will be for naught. We must remember that we are here for Jesus. We are here for His glorification alone, and we are here to share His love.
Thank the Lord for His truth, His mercy, His grace, and His love!"
"Wow. Today feels like so much. God is such a good protector; despite my mild anxieties, we arrived in La Romana without a hitch. I'm still so fascinated by flying; it's so surreal, and everything is so beautiful. It's a whole new perspective.
That's part of what this trip is, a perspective change.
There is so much newness! I'm in a country with a foreign language. ( I now am even more sympathetic with the foreign language speakers in my home country.) God is giving me new eyes.
Our devotional tonight is from Revelation 21:5; Jesus proclaims, "Look! I am making everything new!" I believe at times, Jesus doesn't necessarily make the "things" new; I believe, he changes us. We now see or are reminded in our soul and spirit to see the world as Jesus does. Jesus looks on everything with love; He is one with the Father. The Father, God, is love! He is love's personification, and He cannot be separated from it. His love is furious, penetrating, unending, enduring, passionate, consuming, relentless, and it is the most beautiful thing I have ever and will ever encounter!
For me to be effective this week, or ever in life, I must keep this love at the forefront of my mind. It's crazy how my sinful flesh can drag me away from the always refreshing always newly exciting and amazing love of Christ. That is the fight of the flesh though; satan, the ultimate deceiver and father of all lies will attempt at all times to draw us away from the beautiful love of Christ. It is truly a daily struggle to fight, but we must fight in the knowledge that our battles have already been won.
Christ does not call us from the other side of our battle either. He stands with us, intercedes for us, and He fights on our behalf. When we are weary and weak, we can rest in the promise that He is strong in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we are enfeebled, He is empowered. When we are tired, He is tireless. When we are feeling hopeless, He is our hope (Hebrews 6:19). When we lose faith, He is ever faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).
Psalm 23 reminds us that though we fight, we fight with mere shadows. ("Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...") The psalmist also writes, "I will fear no evil, for You [The Lord] are with me." God doesn't wait for us to come out of the valley; He joins us in it. He cannot abandon His beloved children. Also, if we have the ultimate light, Christ, with us, the shadows that attempt to haunt us have no choice but to flee!
[[Props to Jason Polk for teaching on this at The Orchard one night. It's been such an encouragement.]]
Jesus is exactly what we need, always! Only He can satisfy the depths of our soul with His boundless love. He can satisfy the needs of everyone we meet and minister to this week. We will eventually leave and have been like a wave in the sea to them. However, if we go to them under the authority and clothed in the love of Christ, His love will never leave them. This is not to say our time here is fruitless, but it is to say, that unless we leave the true love and peace of Christ, our efforts will be for naught. We must remember that we are here for Jesus. We are here for His glorification alone, and we are here to share His love.
Thank the Lord for His truth, His mercy, His grace, and His love!"
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