Altogether Lovely

Over this last week, I have felt the weight of sin on my shoulders. I have been constantly aware of my error, and my inability to change some of the character flaws which have become a part of my earthly being. I desire to be rid of my sin, to live a life here on earth that is unstained, and pure in every aspect of my life, as should all those in relationship with Christ. I desire to be "holy, as (he) is holy (1 Peter 3:16), and have been frustrated as I continue to fail. I know this will always be during my time on earth and that my hope is found in the certainty I have in Heaven and more specifically in the God who has sent His son thus giving me that certainty. However, although my head knows this, my heart does not often live it. I still get frustrated. I still try to change myself, rather than looking to my creator to help me.

I recently read the following quote, and I thought I would share it as it pertains to my prior thoughts. "Our birthright is to fail and to fail often, but to fail in search of something bigger than we can imagine. To do anything else is to waste it all." (http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/06/is-it-worthy.html) I am seeking to take these frustrations, and allow myself to dwell on the perfection of Christ. God knows my failures. I know that I serve a God who loves me, who forgives me and who is refining, sanctifying and conforming me more, every day to His image. I am thankful for this. I am thankful that God loves me even though I sin, and wants me to run to Him with the burden, so that He can strengthen me to do the things I cannot do on my own. In this way, even when I fail, I bring Him glory, as I recognize more and more that it isn't about me and so much about Him.

To close, I heard a familiar song this morning, that really resonated with me and corresponds well with my above thoughts. This song is by Kari Jobe and it is called Beautiful. This prayer represents the attitude that I pray I have as I live my life day to day. That I could release the burdens and the failures of the day, to recognize the beauty that is held in Christ. For He is "altogether lovely..." (Song 5:16) and worthy to be praised.

Click here to listen to the song.

Here, before your altar,

I am letting go of all I've held

Of ever motive, every burden,

Every thing that's of myself.

And I just want to wait on you my God,

I just want to dwell in who you are.

Beautiful, beautiful,

Oh I am lost for more to say.

Beautiful, beautiful,

Oh Lord, You're beautiful to me.

Here, in your presence,

I am not afraid of brokenness,

To wash your feet,

With humble tears,

Oh I would be poured out

Till nothing is left.

And I just want to wait on you my God,

I just want to dwell in who you are.

Holy, Holy, Holy,

You are, You are.

Holy, Holy, Holy,

You are, You are.

"because he first loved us."

Love it such a funny thing. Miraculous really. Here we are on earth and the earth is created, maintained and upheld by God. God not only created earth, but He created man from His image (Genesis 1:27) and from man, created woman. So here we are, humans on a planet called earth, with a purpose. A purpose to live a life completely and utterly devoted to the glory of God, our creator, sustainer, father and King. We seek to do this by loving God. Making Him our priority, and placing Him and His will above all earthly joys and pleasures, recognizing that how we spend our time on earth, will affect our eternal existence and the life that our souls will live far beyond our temporary time on earth. It seems so simple. Love God, and love others. But love is so confusing. So God, who is love, sends His son to earth, where he lives fully human as Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world. During this time, Jesus shows us the ultimate act of love. He dies for us. He takes the burden of all of our sin which separates us from God, so that we can experience this love. A love like no other love which was demonstrated on the cross. (Romans 5:8) In 1 John 4:19 it states "we love because he first loved us."

On earth, there are so many different kinds of love: friendship, romantic, familial, brotherly and the list goes on. What would it look like if every human relationship we had, we loved remembering that the only reason we are able to experience even a small ounce of love, is because "he first loved us". How would our relationships thus turn our hearts to God in worship and praise of all He has done for us, and spur us on to run towards Him with our eyes fixed on His goodness, remembering His grace and love for us (being the origin of love!). That our love for God, would cause us to love others, and would in turn cause us to run back to God in thankfulness and the cycle would just continue!

I am thankful for the ability God has given me to love and for sending His son as the ultimate act of love. I pray that everyday I can embrace the opportunities I have to love all those around me, and that I am able to love God more "because he first loved (me)" thus giving me the ability to experience such a beautiful and wonderful gift.

Bipedal no more...

3 weeks ago today I had surgery on my foot and I officially became handicapped for 8 weeks. Bunions. Look it up on Wikipedia. 3 weeks ago today, I received a challenge. For those of you who know me well, you will know that it is not easy for me to rest. I am always doing something and always looking for opportunities to keep busy. It is definitely something that I am working on, and something that I knew this surgery would challenge me to do. Although day after day I am constantly failing, God continues to teach me. Day after day he gives me more patience to do the once simple tasks that are now tedious and aggravating. He gives me more strength ask for help. Finally, He opens my eyes to see the wonderful people around me who have been devout in serving, patient in waiting, and incredibly encouraging. I am truly blessed.

Today, as I arrived at work, I was struggling to get to the door with my heavy bag in hand. If you have ever used crutches before, you will know how difficult it is to carry something while hobbling your way to your destination. It was a few steps in that a wonderful lady came out, offering to help me. She carried my bag in, opened up doors, and helped me get settled. This small, seemingly insignificant act, made my day. Someone that I barely know, felt the call to help me, and it was truly a blessing. This is just one, of the many acts that have encouraged me so much. Now, I don't say these things hoping you will feel guilted in to helping me the next time you see me. That isn't it at all. But I do hope to give you a picture of how the littlest things, can't have a big effect.

Someone wise recently said to me "Your situation proves that we humans are meant to be bipedal." I look forward to the day when I can yet again say I am as such. Although I have 5 weeks left of being on crutches, I see God's hand at work and I trust Him to give me the ability to see this through. I am so thankful for everyone who has been there for me. People who have been with me to watch movies, paint my toes, drive me around, or just talk. You know who you are.

Obeying at all Cost

The following is a daily devotional study from April 30 from the devotional 365 Days Calvin. I would highly recommend this devotional for anyone who might be looking for a brief, challenging, and encouraging devotional. I felt I would share this one specifically, as it really resonated with me. Obedience has never been my strength, especially when I am asked to do the hard thing. The thing that no part of my flesh wants to do, but the thing that I know I need to do. I pray you might find this to be a challenge to you as well. What do you feel God asking you to do today? What is that thing you have been putting off, or hoping would go away? Is God asking you to do something, but you have been choosing not to listen? By no means do I ask you these questions suggesting that I am good at it! I continue to struggle each day to step out in faith trusting that obedience will have it's reward. But I hope to spur you on, to do that thing. If God is asking you to do something, it is because there is benefit to you and more importantly to the Glory of God. Be encouraged. He is walking with us today, and will give us the courage and strength to do what He is calling us to do, if we are are truly seeking to honour Him with every aspect of our lives.

Obeying at all Cost

Jeremiah 42: 5 - 6

Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the Lord your God sends you to us. Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.”

Extended Reading: Hebrews 11: 1 - 10

Jeremiah acts as a kind of mediator here, addressing the people in God's name as though he has been sent form heaven. The people respond by saying they will do whatever God commands. They say even more emphatically: Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God.

In saying this, the people do not suggest that God's word is wrong of in any way unjust;rather, they use the word good in the sense of being joyful, and evil as being sad or grievous. They ask for nothing more than that God will declare to them what pleases him, to which they will be so submissive that they will refuse him nothing, even if it is contrary to the flesh.

If this declaration proceeds from the heart, it is a testimony of true piety;; for the minds of the godly ought so to be framed as to obey God without making any exception, whether he commands what is contrary to their purpose or leads them where they do not wish to go. By contrast, those who wish to make an agreement with God, saying he should require nothing but what is agreeable to them, show that they do not know that it means to serve God.

True obedience of faith requires that we renounce our desires and do not set up our own arguments and wishes against the Word of God. We do not object to what God requires of us, saying it is too hard or not quite agreeable to us. So whether it is good or evil, meaning agreeable to or contrary to the feelings of the flesh, we ought to embrace what God requires and commands. This is the foundational measure of true religion.

Unbelievable Faith

One of the most important doctrines of Christianity, and the foundation to salvation (eternal life in heaven) through Jesus Christ is the means by which we are saved. The biblical perspective is addressed by the apostle Paul in Galatians 2:16 and says "...yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." It is only through faith, given by God, we are saved and that if we"confess with [our] mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in [our] heart that God raised him from the dead, [we] will be saved."

However, James also states that "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" in James 2:17. Faith in Jesus Christ and the salvation that comes from Him should lead us to repentance; a recognition of our need for him to do all things, a thankfulness for his undeserved grace, and a desire to serve him with our lives through works.

Faith and works go hand it hand.

I write this today because it just makes so much sense! Any religion that seeks to serve, honor and live for a higher power requires humility and a recognition that there actually is something bigger, something more, that we are living for. There must be something or someone who is responsible for determining our eternal existence and salvation, outside of us.

Something that I love about my relationship with God is that I know that without him, I can do nothing. When I know I can do nothing without him, it makes me dependent on him, and keeps my eyes set on him. And that brings glory to him, rather than myself. Faith in Christ requires that I trust Him for faith to believe and strength to serve. It is only "from him, through him and to him" (Romans 11:36) that I can do anything. I am saved because He has given me faith to believe. It is only God who can give me saving faith, and only God can give me the ability and the desire to serve Him in a pure way.

When religion requires works in exchange for eternal life, the religion becomes about the believer rather than about their god. It is their strength and their actions that allow them to achieve the outcome they desire. But if the believer is looking to serve and live for a being outside of themselves, the religion must be about something outside of themselves. Pride puts us at the center, and pride hinders us from serving in faith. The problem is that I'm not worthy of my own affection. I don't deserve glory for myself. Only God deserves the glory. I seek to live a life glorifying to Him. I live in a sinful world where sin can hold me back from doing what I want to do--bring glory to God. When I remember that I can do nothing without Him, it forces me to go to Him for strength. This is the battle: pride. To believe that one is actually capable to 'save' oneself--this is pride, which is exactly what we need to be fighting when we are living for a higher power!

A Revelation...

I recently returned from a wonderful vacation in British Columbia with my roommate Melissa, where I visited my sister and two of my Uncles. My Uncles both work at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver, and Mel and I had the opportunity to learn how to Snowboard. My Uncle has always wanted to get me on a board, and this was finally my opportunity! I entered this adventure with anxiousness as I always fear the unknown and hate the idea of getting hurt. In the mornings we would have lessons and the afternoons, we would spend attempting to practice the things that we learned in our lessons.

Day 2 came around, and Melissa and I decided we were going to attempt a hill that was by no means little, and much larger than the bunny hill we had spent all of our time on prior. We headed up the ski lift with hands gripping the safety bar tightly , praying we would make it safely down the hill. It was our travels down the hill, where I had a revelation. A revelation about who I am, and how God created me to be and how this affects the decisions I make, and how I make them. Let me share.

I like routine. I like order, organization and control. I like to know where I am going, and why I am going there. I like to have a plan and know exactly where that plan will take me. I like reason and thought, and because of this I often over think. (None of this being my revelation). Heading down the slope of unknown grounds was definitely not aligning with these things I like so much, and therefore, I was full of fear.

This parallels well with the unknown of next year. Since Kindergarten, I have always known what the next year would hold. I transitioned from highschool, to post-secondary school and then immediately in to Teachers College. I am sure you can imagine how having no definite plans for next year might cause me to fear after years of predictability. Up to this point, I have always had a plan, and God has always confirmed my plan, telling me exactly where He wants me to go. I know that God will provide me with the means necessary to do all He desires me to accomplish next year, but my flesh seeks to war against the peace the Spirit has the potential to give me. In a similar mindset as moving slowly down the hill at Cypress, I head in to next year slowly, not making any quick movements or decisions, prayerfully and cautiously seeing what God has in store for me, anticipating the safety of the bottom of the hill where He reveals the plan He has for me.

After making it safely to the bottom, we then continued to go down the hill again, and as I got to know the slopes of that hill, I was able to move a little less cautiously, knowing what was ahead of me, knowing that I had done it before, and could do it again. I became more comfortable with the turns and twists, and eventually, was able to look up and enjoy the view of what was going on around me. I pray this will be true for this transition in my life. That as I feel God sending me down a certain unknown "hill", I would become more comfortable with the plans He has for me, and be able to enjoy the wonderful things I know that God will place in my life.

I also know that I should not fear trials, and hurt. Pain is a part of sanctification, and it is through the experiences of difficulty in my past that have shaped me and grown me the most. So I also pray that as I head in to next year, I would not fear doing something that may be way out of my comfort zone. That I would be able to point my board straight to the bottom of the hill trusting that whatever God has for me, a comfortable ride, or a ride full of bumps and bruises, that He has me in His hands. He is good.

I am thankful for this revelation, and love that God has created me to be exactly who I am today, and has given me the grace I need to make it through each day, one at a time. I am curious to see where God takes me this coming year, and pray for the strength to follow Him down any hill, no matter how steep the slope.

High Flight

I love this poem. I always think of it before I fly somewhere and I am leaving tomorrow for British Columbia. So I thought I would share it with you. This poem was actually quoted by President Reagan on January 28, 1986 after the space shuttle Challenger disaster.

It was written by a man named John Gillespie Magee Jr. who was a American who joined the Canadian Air Force. He wrote this poem in an attempt to express the emotions he felt when flying. He died at the young age of 19 years old, while training in 1941.

As with many poems, we tend to interpret poems in a way that relates to us individually. I know it has encouraged me and I pray it touches you in some way as well.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

She replied...

I never really knew her. She never stayed out long enough for anyone to know her really. She was quiet, kept to herself most of the time, except for the days when it was raining. She always seemed a little more social in the rain. The sunny days didn't do much for her. She usually didn't come out of the house until noon on the sunny days, and when she did, she seemed in a hurry. She went out, and was back again, in to the space that captivated her, gave her meaning. The space she knew she could be whoever she wanted to be, whatever that looked like.

One day she went out. Out to do whatever it is she does. But she never came back. I was so sure something had to have happened to her. Something drastic must have happened for something to remove her from the routine of her ins and outs. Her going out and coming back. Her consistency that even I had become accustomed to.

As time passed, I thought about her less and less. Eventually she became a distant memory. Fading slowly until I thought her memory was completely erased.

Until one day, I saw her. I had never seen her with such purpose. I could see it in her eyes. Even the sun couldn't hold her back today. She was zealous for the daylight, looking to soak in every ounce of it. She sat alone, basking in the glory of the sun. A contagious glow around her infected everyone near to her. Her routine changed. She never went to the same place twice and that was her routine. Yet no matter where she was, she continued to touch everyone around her. Rainy days, sunny days, even hurricanes couldn't hold her back.

One day, I found the courage to talk to her. After all these years of following her, watching her, waiting for her.

"What is your name?" I asked.

She replied..."Joy."

Don't be alarmed...

This might be 'alarming' (pun intended), however I must say that today, this half cup full kinda girl's cup is running on empty. Two words: Alarm and frustrating. From the moment I woke up, to now, alarms have haunted me. Let me share...

I awoke this morning to the sound of my alarm going off. Not just one alarm...but two. (I am a little bit obsessive compulsive, and like to set two alarms in case one chooses to not go off for some reason.) At 7:00am, I hear the sound of my more pleasant and harmonious alarm from my cell phone which I strategically place across the room so that it requires me to get up to turn it off. What a drag. It always seems smart as I fall asleep, but my perception changes when the warmth of my bed begs me to stay. Shortly after, around 7:15am, alarm number two goes off which is my radio-clock on my bedside table which plays a variety of music from Q 97.5 FM. In order to ensure that I wake up, I turn this alarm up as loud as it can possibly go. Now do take note; I am a morning person and enjoy getting up early but this morning was different, and I always know when my alarm is frustrating me, that it is going to be a long day.

Not only did I awake with a frustration with alarms, but my frustration has reappeared as my day comes to an end. I am babysitting tonight, and not just for the evening, but overnight. I always dread the overnighters as I know that it is going to require me to pursue a relationship with the house alarm, which never seems to work in my favor. So, around 10 o'clock I turn on the alarm for the night, feeling confident I have done everything right. Wrong...just 2 minutes later I hear the loud siren from the house alarm and it informs me that I apparently pressed the "away" button instead of the "stay" button. This is followed by a phone call and a Security officer who comes and checks my ID and asks me for the required payment of 50$. (You can see I am quite familiar with this process...this is not the first time and I doubt the last). For your entertainment this story has an added twist because when I opened the door for the Security officer, I neglected to turn off the alarm and therefore, set off the alarm a second time. This again was followed by a phone call but fortunately for me, the Security officer was standing beside me when I received the phone call. In the words of Charlie Brown...'Good grief.'

As I ponder the frustrations of the day, I notice that I am not alarmed that at the end of a frustrating day, that my heavenly fathers arms are wide open, ready to comfort me and forgive me for my compliancy to the frustrations and the grumbling and complaining I have allowed myself to participate in today. For that I am thankful, and I look forward to a good nights rest, and a new day tomorrow where I hope to find friendship with the alarms that have sought to attack me today and day where I can rejoice in the opportunity I have to wake up on a Sunday morning and worship my God, Savior and King in community with so many whom I love.

Until tomorrow...

Happy Valentines Day...really!

Happy Valentine's Day! I find it very odd that I am saying this and am surprised that I am having such a wonderful Valentine's Day. In all honesty, I have been dreading today for a while now. The realistic situation is that it can often make those not in romantic relationships feel very alone, while the rest of the world celebrates the significant relationships in their lives. Not only this, but can often make you think about past relationships and the bruises left behind. And I mean, I appreciate my Dad's efforts to make me feel loved, but in all honesty, it just isn't the same. But the good news is that I am here to tell you that this dread has turned in to a hope and an excitement to take opportunities to love others, and as a result, show my love for God in order that I may glorify him with my life.

Although my stance on Valentine's Day has shifted many times over the years, I must admit that I am a closet Valentine's Day fan (apparently not any more). In the past I have often taken the opinion that Valentine's Day is simply a commercialized holiday encouraging us to spend ridiculous amounts of money to show people in our lives the love, that realistically, we should be showing every day. Have you ever researched the history behind Valentine's Day? I mean seriously...who turns the anniversary of three Christian Martyrs in to a holiday based around love? (Wikipedia is your friend: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day) Valentine's Day is commercialized, overdone, cheesy holiday, and is based around a terrible story, but the fact of the matter is that we live in a culture in which Valentine's Day is a part, and being in the world, not a part of it (John 15:19), gives me the encouragement to seek to love all those whom God has given me the opportunity to love, and love them in a way that may perhaps, direct them to Christ. John 4:19 says "we love because he first loved us." God has created us, and given us the opportunity to love at all. To feel love is is because of God's incredible design for us, to be loved by God is given to us in grace, and it is only God who can empower us to love others, whether that be a spouse, a significant other, a sibling or a stranger. We need to move away from this idea that love is an action, but see it as a lifestyle. A constant giving of yourself to whomever God gives you the opportunity.

I couldn't imagine a better way to spend my Valentine's Day then being at church with a family of believers whom I have come to love and respect so much, having lunch with my Mom and Dad who have been incredible examples of love in my life, taking a brief afternoon nap (which I loved), and then spending the evening with 3 beautiful children whom I love dearly, decorating Valentine's cupcakes, playing games and falling asleep together in a large king sized bed. God is good, and I pray that I would be thankful for the glimpses of love He has given me in my life, and I would be a great example of Christ's love to everyone around me, not just today, but every day. I pray your Valentine's Day was as blessed as mine.

Oh the places you'll go.

So I babysit frequently. I love it. I have been babysitting since I was 10, and continue to do it to this day. One family I have now been babysitting for almost 3 years, and babysit for them weekly. They have three children, and I have loved getting to see them grow up. I was reading one of the young boys a book before putting him down for bed. It was Oh the Place You'll Go by Dr. Seuss. There is so many great life lessons, and so much truth in this book. I highly suggest it. Young or old. Here is the text. May this encourage you today.

Oh the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

No! That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t. Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

I lay my hand on my mouth

I was recently reading from Job. This passage stuck out to me. It says the following:

Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not answer;

Twice, but I will proceed no further.

Job 40:3 - 4

Now, this verse on it's own might be confusing. It seems that Job is neglecting to answer God. But when put in to context, it holds much truth and an example of an attitude which I aspire to have.

The verse prior gives insight in to the context of the verse. It says the following:

Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

He who argues with God, let him answer it.

Job 40:2

So basically, God has asked Job if he understands how the universe was created (Job 38: 4 - 11) and if he has the wisdom to govern it and all it's creatures (Job 38:12-38). God then asks the question in the previous text I provided. Job's response to this question is laying his hand on his mouth. He is humbled. He recognizes his limited experience as a mortal and could not possibly question God as he is a depraved sinner, in need of God in all his goodness and grace. God name's Job as a faultfinder, and the questions asked allow Job to see himself as simply a human, with a drop of insight in the ocean that is God.

I need this attitude in my life. I so often question God's plans. I so often think that I know it all, and that I have the ability to give some incredible insight to God in regards to what I need or think would be good for my life and the life of others. What a fool I am. I head in to next year, so unsure of so many things. I want so badly to know what to do with my life. I have so many plans and ideas, but know that I cannot direct my own path. Proverbs 19:21 says Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 3:6 says In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. So much easier said than done, but my prayer is that I would just lay my hand on my mouth, knowing that God is sovereign, and has purpose, meaning and a plan for my life.

Now I understand that these verses lead to a bigger issue regarding God's justice in circumstances much larger then the menial problems in my life, but that would be an entire book! So, I have taken the verse, put it in to the context of my life, and pray it encourages you to aspire to this attitude as I am.

My life is yours God. I lay my hand on my mouth (or try to anyways).

Content with Less

Alright. So here I go again. A new year. 2010. A year full of the unknown, however filled with God's faithfulness, of that I am sure. A year full of blogging. (I hope) about the divinely inspired details of my life, ordained by my creator. My previous attempts have floundered, however I am determined to become a better writer. One who's no so interesting life can become interesting because of the purpose it holds. The glory of God.

This blog holds a new title. A title which came to me while reading Ecclesiastes on a damp day in early December. I always found Ecclesiastes to be such a depressing book of the bible, however it took a dark time in my life to realize the hope and truth this book holds. 2 Timothy 3:16 says "All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." I recognize this even more now, after seeing how different books, chapters and verses will encourage, teach and lift you up in different seasons of your life. Proof of the spirit at work.

A Handful of Quietness is found in a verse in Ecclesiastes 4:6. "Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving after the wind." I use this as the title, recognizing that I am living in a fallen world, where confusion is plentiful and fear of God is limited. A world where there are so many distractions which can take our eyes off of Christ. A world where I can easily strive after worldiness, and things that do not come close to comparing to the grandeur of God. Along with the recognition that I am in a fallen world, I recognize my desperate need for Christ. I recognize that I need to give up my dreams, my ambitions and my plans and be content with the path God has planned out for me. Whether that be what I have in mind or not. I will be content with whatever God has for me, even if that be less. I long to enter the Kingdom of God knowing I lived my life for Him, with nothing, than to know that I lived for my flesh, and had everything I could ever dream of.

This is my prayer for the year 2010. That I will lay all that I desire, and all this world tempts me to desire, and find myself in Christ. That I may love what He calls me to love, and hate what He calls me to hate. That I may willingly follow God's steps for my life, with joy, peace and utter devotion. That I will be content in all circumstances, knowing that I have a loving father, who cares for me and wants only the best for my life. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." I will live for Him alone, recognizing that He is more than enough and He will give me what I need in order to sustain me in this temporary life.

For His name's sake.