Hebrews 6:7-12 (The Message)
4-8Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, once they've personally experienced the sheer goodness of God's Word and the powers breaking in on us—if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can't start over as if nothing happened. That's impossible. Why, they've re-crucified Jesus! They've repudiated him in public! Parched ground that soaks up the rain and then produces an abundance of carrots and corn for its gardener gets God's "Well done!" But if it produces weeds and thistles, it's more likely to get cussed out. Fields like that are burned, not harvested.
9-12I'm sure that won't happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you—salvation things! God doesn't miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you've shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
le grá go deo
le grá go deo: with love forever
“…many men will read your Word but they'll never change their mind. But I will not forget you.”
________________________
Life.
A roof in the middle of Managua, high enough over the city to spy on people who are walking under the night sky. The middle of a field in Kenya where stars are probably as bright as the ones Abraham saw. Lonely woods with rivers that trickle through the forest, drawing nature to come quench its thirst. Acoustic guitars strumming the chords of songs that seem sad, yet connect you with a longing that is deep within every heart. A well told story. Accents. Russia. Hiking trails and long walks. International food. Tea. Canoeing adventures—especially when the canoe tips and everyone gets wet. Building forts. Hide and seek. Shadow puppets. Lightning bugs in a jar with holes pierced in the top, to make sure they don’t die while serving as a nightlight. Peter Pan. Adventures. Waves. Eating brownie batter. Bonfires. Laughing until you cry. Good memories. Airplane rides. Time changes. Road trips. Movies that are so good, you never want to leave…you just want to live there, with the characters. Restored friendships. Fresh revelation. Renewed hope.
__________________________
Death.
Losing a best friend. A favorite tree to climb gets struck by lightning— the perfect sitting branch is lost to the elements. Moving out of a well-loved neighborhood. Breaking a favorite childhood movie. Finding out people who were once in love are now getting a divorce. Overhearing a conversation that maligns your perception of yourself. Witnessing the tears of an aunt as she holds a two year old who is dying with AIDs. Lost dreams. Heart-breaking rejections. When your heart hurts so bad that you literally feel the ache. Someone you love doesn’t love you back. Not knowing if you will ever be able to love or trust again. Discovering that a hero isn't perfect. Feeling insignificant and forgotten—passed over for someone new, like old shoes that are tossed aside for something better. For a moment wishing you never knew someone because they cut you so deeply. Depression. Feeling like a wrong word can never be mended…and that a “no” can never turn to a “yes”. Decisions that you regret, yet they seem final and unable to be altered. Unforgiveness. Feeling misunderstood. Secrets that seem too heavy to become undone. Unrequited love. Regret. Letting go. Confusion over what to do, how to love, who to let close.
_____________________________
Sometimes there are no words. Sometimes there are too many words.
But when sorrow tries to overshadow hope, I remember:
“In life we journey forward. We put our hand in His. We don’t always do everything perfectly, but we move forward with trust in His beauty, love, and goodness. No fear when my little hand is in His humungous hand!” (–mom)
_______________________________
And with love forever, I remember You. With love forever, I know that You hold my hand through every storm. With love forever, I know that in Your eyes, I will never be passed over—Your love never grows cold and Your attention is never diverted from watching over my life.
With love forever. I dedicate myself to You.
__________________________
Resurrection
You wound me so I become whole. You silence me so I learn how to speak. You break me so I can fly. You lead me into a wilderness in order to romance me.
It’s when I feel like I’ve lost my sight, my hearing, my voice—You teach me how to really see, to really hear, to really speak.
It’s in the storm that I realize I’ve known the Thunder Maker all along. He blows down my defenses, wounds my plans for retreat. And when the wind leaves me completely exposed, He teaches me again the beauty of my heart in His—what it feels like to beat in unity. “Me in Him and Him in me.”
____________________________
Your ways are not my ways. Never will I fully understand that you don’t think like man. Even in the depths of hell, you come to me—You shine your light where darkness feels like it will never cease. When others run in retreat, you visit me. Even there, You speak purpose and destiny over my life. When I feel like my problems are too heavy and my secrets too deep—you whisper over me that already You know them all—and they don’t scare You. Still You want me. When it feels like dreams will never come again, you bring rest, opening my eyes to a whole new sight. This—really is—too wonderful for me to comprehend.
“You are all around me—in front and in back—and have put your hand on me.”
________________________
Abba, I will not forget You.
Your smile has won my heart. Your songs are my favorite.
Your jokes are my favorite. They make me laugh every time.
Your tears...they move my heart.
Your promises confound my imagination.
You never leave me.
Even when I mess up, You stick around.
You don't leave me to die in the wilderness.
Shame doesn't stand a chance next to Your unrelenting love.
Never will there be a love like Yours.
I want my life to be a dance for You.
Thank You for everything.
_____________________________
With love forever.
“…many men will read your Word but they'll never change their mind. But I will not forget you.”
________________________
Life.
A roof in the middle of Managua, high enough over the city to spy on people who are walking under the night sky. The middle of a field in Kenya where stars are probably as bright as the ones Abraham saw. Lonely woods with rivers that trickle through the forest, drawing nature to come quench its thirst. Acoustic guitars strumming the chords of songs that seem sad, yet connect you with a longing that is deep within every heart. A well told story. Accents. Russia. Hiking trails and long walks. International food. Tea. Canoeing adventures—especially when the canoe tips and everyone gets wet. Building forts. Hide and seek. Shadow puppets. Lightning bugs in a jar with holes pierced in the top, to make sure they don’t die while serving as a nightlight. Peter Pan. Adventures. Waves. Eating brownie batter. Bonfires. Laughing until you cry. Good memories. Airplane rides. Time changes. Road trips. Movies that are so good, you never want to leave…you just want to live there, with the characters. Restored friendships. Fresh revelation. Renewed hope.
__________________________
Death.
Losing a best friend. A favorite tree to climb gets struck by lightning— the perfect sitting branch is lost to the elements. Moving out of a well-loved neighborhood. Breaking a favorite childhood movie. Finding out people who were once in love are now getting a divorce. Overhearing a conversation that maligns your perception of yourself. Witnessing the tears of an aunt as she holds a two year old who is dying with AIDs. Lost dreams. Heart-breaking rejections. When your heart hurts so bad that you literally feel the ache. Someone you love doesn’t love you back. Not knowing if you will ever be able to love or trust again. Discovering that a hero isn't perfect. Feeling insignificant and forgotten—passed over for someone new, like old shoes that are tossed aside for something better. For a moment wishing you never knew someone because they cut you so deeply. Depression. Feeling like a wrong word can never be mended…and that a “no” can never turn to a “yes”. Decisions that you regret, yet they seem final and unable to be altered. Unforgiveness. Feeling misunderstood. Secrets that seem too heavy to become undone. Unrequited love. Regret. Letting go. Confusion over what to do, how to love, who to let close.
_____________________________
Sometimes there are no words. Sometimes there are too many words.
But when sorrow tries to overshadow hope, I remember:
“In life we journey forward. We put our hand in His. We don’t always do everything perfectly, but we move forward with trust in His beauty, love, and goodness. No fear when my little hand is in His humungous hand!” (–mom)
_______________________________
And with love forever, I remember You. With love forever, I know that You hold my hand through every storm. With love forever, I know that in Your eyes, I will never be passed over—Your love never grows cold and Your attention is never diverted from watching over my life.
With love forever. I dedicate myself to You.
__________________________
Resurrection
You wound me so I become whole. You silence me so I learn how to speak. You break me so I can fly. You lead me into a wilderness in order to romance me.
It’s when I feel like I’ve lost my sight, my hearing, my voice—You teach me how to really see, to really hear, to really speak.
It’s in the storm that I realize I’ve known the Thunder Maker all along. He blows down my defenses, wounds my plans for retreat. And when the wind leaves me completely exposed, He teaches me again the beauty of my heart in His—what it feels like to beat in unity. “Me in Him and Him in me.”
____________________________
Your ways are not my ways. Never will I fully understand that you don’t think like man. Even in the depths of hell, you come to me—You shine your light where darkness feels like it will never cease. When others run in retreat, you visit me. Even there, You speak purpose and destiny over my life. When I feel like my problems are too heavy and my secrets too deep—you whisper over me that already You know them all—and they don’t scare You. Still You want me. When it feels like dreams will never come again, you bring rest, opening my eyes to a whole new sight. This—really is—too wonderful for me to comprehend.
“You are all around me—in front and in back—and have put your hand on me.”
________________________
Abba, I will not forget You.
Your smile has won my heart. Your songs are my favorite.
Your jokes are my favorite. They make me laugh every time.
Your tears...they move my heart.
Your promises confound my imagination.
You never leave me.
Even when I mess up, You stick around.
You don't leave me to die in the wilderness.
Shame doesn't stand a chance next to Your unrelenting love.
Never will there be a love like Yours.
I want my life to be a dance for You.
Thank You for everything.
_____________________________
With love forever.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The Simple
I feel pressure to write something profound, earth-shaking, mind-set changing; like the kind of things people write when they leave an old year and go into a new one. I’m just afraid the words will come out obnoxious and reused, and I will look back and agonize that I ever actually thought like that when the calendar went from 2008 to 2009. But I want to write, so I’m going to, even if it comes out completely cliche.
Thought: Is it possible that the simplest thing could bring the biggest breakthrough?
Reflection: Thinking about the years that have gone by, the heroes who have inspired me, the dreams that have stayed with me through the years (even if at times they felt dim), the adventures that have changed me, the people who have opened my eyes to the vastness of life. It is hilarious the twists and turns of life—and the way lessons are learned when you did not even seek a tutor. More times this year than ever before, the lessons had to smack themselves into my stubborn resolve to ignore wisdom, yet I’m so thankful that the Tutor did come—and that He chastens because He loves.
Life and trusting God is a different process than I expected. I thought that I was someone who was okay with the adventure of trusting God, and that nothing could ever touch my focus. Yet, I’ve found that I’m not as strong as I thought, and 2008 proved that to me. It was a long year—too complex to write about in a short note. It was also a good year, but also a terrifyingly honest year in showing me….well, me. No regrets, though. Just excitement that who I am is not the final product; that where I’ve been is not going to stop me from journeying to the place I’m going. What I learned yesterday was not in vain—nothing wasted, nothing broken beyond restoration.
And thinking back I am struck by how the simplest of words, the simplest of songs, and the simplest of prayers…have broken through the most boldly and convincingly into my heart. Maybe it is the simplest of resolutions that bring the most change, and the slightest turn that saves a life.
Where I’ve had a difficult time hearing and it’s been hard seeing this past year, I know it is partially because I forgot how profound and life-giving it is to keep things simple. I let things get cluttered, trying hard to prove something to someone (who I cannot even define), and in the process forgetting the One who it’s all about anyways. I’m resolved to return to the simple. I want to get back into the habit of saying, “Speak Lord,’” because then, “life will become a romance…one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time.” (Chambers)
Cliche or not, the truth still stands:
Marvelous things are waiting to be seen.
All the time.
And now is the time to seize such a glorious opportunity.
Thought: Is it possible that the simplest thing could bring the biggest breakthrough?
Reflection: Thinking about the years that have gone by, the heroes who have inspired me, the dreams that have stayed with me through the years (even if at times they felt dim), the adventures that have changed me, the people who have opened my eyes to the vastness of life. It is hilarious the twists and turns of life—and the way lessons are learned when you did not even seek a tutor. More times this year than ever before, the lessons had to smack themselves into my stubborn resolve to ignore wisdom, yet I’m so thankful that the Tutor did come—and that He chastens because He loves.
Life and trusting God is a different process than I expected. I thought that I was someone who was okay with the adventure of trusting God, and that nothing could ever touch my focus. Yet, I’ve found that I’m not as strong as I thought, and 2008 proved that to me. It was a long year—too complex to write about in a short note. It was also a good year, but also a terrifyingly honest year in showing me….well, me. No regrets, though. Just excitement that who I am is not the final product; that where I’ve been is not going to stop me from journeying to the place I’m going. What I learned yesterday was not in vain—nothing wasted, nothing broken beyond restoration.
And thinking back I am struck by how the simplest of words, the simplest of songs, and the simplest of prayers…have broken through the most boldly and convincingly into my heart. Maybe it is the simplest of resolutions that bring the most change, and the slightest turn that saves a life.
Where I’ve had a difficult time hearing and it’s been hard seeing this past year, I know it is partially because I forgot how profound and life-giving it is to keep things simple. I let things get cluttered, trying hard to prove something to someone (who I cannot even define), and in the process forgetting the One who it’s all about anyways. I’m resolved to return to the simple. I want to get back into the habit of saying, “Speak Lord,’” because then, “life will become a romance…one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time.” (Chambers)
Cliche or not, the truth still stands:
Marvelous things are waiting to be seen.
All the time.
And now is the time to seize such a glorious opportunity.
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