"I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ." Philemon 4-6
We have plenty to acknowledge, at all times, no matter our circumstances. We are complete in Him. He has given us everything we need for life and godliness. He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. The more we acknowledge, the more effective our witness can be. What will it take to get us to acknowledge our richness?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Eternal Relationship
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." Jn. 17:3
Eternal life is a result of a relationship. So much of what circulates as "spiritual conversation" here is only about religion. Mine is not that. I have a personal relationship with my God because Christ brought Him glory through His complete obedience (Jn. 17:4). This is what I want to share!
Eternal life is a result of a relationship. So much of what circulates as "spiritual conversation" here is only about religion. Mine is not that. I have a personal relationship with my God because Christ brought Him glory through His complete obedience (Jn. 17:4). This is what I want to share!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Gracious Gift
My devotions went as far as my "Pauline prayer" for the morning. I couldn't get past 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17:
"Now may the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."
Paul makes a request, but begins it by stating an already proven truth that validates his request. (I cannot help but begin in praise for the ability to have such confidence in our God!) The initial truth is that Christ and our Father (commentaries explain the verb usage to reveal a unification establishing equality of the Persons) has done two things: 1) loved us, and 2) by grace has given us unending comfort (encouragement) in our present struggles and good (beneficial) hope through the promise of eternity with a victorious Savior.
On the basis of these gifts, Paul can confidently ask his two-fold request: 1) that this same Giver would comfort the hearts of the Thessalonians who had misunderstood through false teaching and become fearful regarding the Day of the Lord (2:1-3), and 2) that He would establish (strengthen) them both in what they spoke (gospel sharing: defense and confirmation of the gospel), and in what they did (gospel living: doing all to the glory of God).
While these two short verses are packed with incredible truths, I was most encouraged by the little phrase "by grace" at the end of verse 16. This is a prayer that is only possible through God's grace. I have no present encouragement, no future hope, no comfort or strength to live and speak as I should without His enabling grace. What praise can I render for such an indescribable gift? I believe He will be most honored if I will respond wholeheartedly to it.
"Now may the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."
Paul makes a request, but begins it by stating an already proven truth that validates his request. (I cannot help but begin in praise for the ability to have such confidence in our God!) The initial truth is that Christ and our Father (commentaries explain the verb usage to reveal a unification establishing equality of the Persons) has done two things: 1) loved us, and 2) by grace has given us unending comfort (encouragement) in our present struggles and good (beneficial) hope through the promise of eternity with a victorious Savior.
On the basis of these gifts, Paul can confidently ask his two-fold request: 1) that this same Giver would comfort the hearts of the Thessalonians who had misunderstood through false teaching and become fearful regarding the Day of the Lord (2:1-3), and 2) that He would establish (strengthen) them both in what they spoke (gospel sharing: defense and confirmation of the gospel), and in what they did (gospel living: doing all to the glory of God).
While these two short verses are packed with incredible truths, I was most encouraged by the little phrase "by grace" at the end of verse 16. This is a prayer that is only possible through God's grace. I have no present encouragement, no future hope, no comfort or strength to live and speak as I should without His enabling grace. What praise can I render for such an indescribable gift? I believe He will be most honored if I will respond wholeheartedly to it.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
A Timely Break
My break in Va Beach last weekend was refreshing and timely. I was so thankful for the time spent with Grace, with Gramps and Gram, with Kirk Lehner, and the added blessing of seeing Uncle Matt from Northland! The brief but quality time helped me relax, refocus, and even reconsider my purpose here. I'm not ready to quit school, but I am striving to find how the Lord wants me to gain for eternity in everything I do, and not just to store knowledge for the here and now. I did come back from my weekend with some looming questions, but have since had a good talk with my wise mom, and I am confident that the Lord will continue to guide me. I feel somewhat like a pendulum swinging back and forth, but (if the analogy holds) it should continue to narrow its width of extremes.
Thank you to those of you who pray for me. I covet these more than ever as my presently fewer opportunities for spiritual fellowship give thanks for those of the past and confidently hope for the future. I rest in the comforting assurance of God's perfect provision in every area of my life. He Himself is what makes it so. The Giver has provided a Gift that cannot be surpassed.
Thank you to those of you who pray for me. I covet these more than ever as my presently fewer opportunities for spiritual fellowship give thanks for those of the past and confidently hope for the future. I rest in the comforting assurance of God's perfect provision in every area of my life. He Himself is what makes it so. The Giver has provided a Gift that cannot be surpassed.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
The Blessings of Fall
Besides being my favorite season, Fall at JMU includes a school break. While this "Fall Break" consists only of a Friday off, it allows for a long weekend which I plan to spend in Va Beach with Grace, my grandparents, and also Uncle Matt. The timing of the respite is of the Lord. This week I have struggled with missing my Northland friends and the spiritual environment that surrounded me there. I have the confidence that the Lord is providing all that I need, but I am having to choose to dwell on unchanging truths rather than past experiences.
Yesterday's devotional in None But the Hungry Heart read, "We never surrender what we value until we find [something] better, and man is so full of himself and his own will that until he finds out the sovereignty of his Father's will he can be neither an obedient nor a suitable servant." It goes on to say that He often teaches us this lesson through trying and painful circumstances. His purpose for this is not our pain, but rather our realization of dependence on Him. What proof of His sovereignty! He does work all things for our good and for His glory. My time here at JMU is working toward these ends, and I can choose to rejoice in this.
And in the meantime, I am exceedingly thankful for the opportunity I have to be refreshed this weekend.
Yesterday's devotional in None But the Hungry Heart read, "We never surrender what we value until we find [something] better, and man is so full of himself and his own will that until he finds out the sovereignty of his Father's will he can be neither an obedient nor a suitable servant." It goes on to say that He often teaches us this lesson through trying and painful circumstances. His purpose for this is not our pain, but rather our realization of dependence on Him. What proof of His sovereignty! He does work all things for our good and for His glory. My time here at JMU is working toward these ends, and I can choose to rejoice in this.
And in the meantime, I am exceedingly thankful for the opportunity I have to be refreshed this weekend.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Blessings in the Void
From a musical standpoint, the weekend of travel and performance went well. However, an obvious void loomed as all the attention and focus centered on none but the temporary. From the times of "focus" to comments like "Tonight is about us," the aspect of public praise to the Lord was painfully lacking. But how thankful I am to still be able to do all that I do to His glory, even if only in my heart. And the Lord also put me with two Christian girls on the team for the weekend and allowed us to stay Friday night with a lady who understood musical ministry. These were encouragements to me, along with little things like a walk in the fall leaves before Saturday's performance, finding a penny on the piano, and getting to see my Dad in Richmond. The Lord is so good to continue to bless and encourage as He teaches me.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
A Tour to End the Week
I leave tomorrow morning for a mini-tour with the Madison Singers, a 24-voice ensemble I am accompanying this semester. We will be performing twice in Richmond, Va on Friday, and again on Saturday evening in Charlottesville, Va. While it won't be quite like my experience with Northland's Fall '05 Ministry Team, I am thankful for the opportunities I've had and will continue to have to share music with others. My main role with the group is a set of Nocturnes by Morten Lauridsen. But more than providing piano accompaniment, I hope to be a usuable instrument in shining Christ and spreading the message of the gospel. Would you please pray that the Lord would give me grace and boldness to offer myself in this way?
"We will sing and praise Your power." (Ps. 21:13 NLT)
"It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. our only power and success come from God." (1 Cor. 3:5 NLT)
"We will sing and praise Your power." (Ps. 21:13 NLT)
"It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. our only power and success come from God." (1 Cor. 3:5 NLT)
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Sight of Love
"For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes" Ps. 26:3.
The New Living Translation reads, "I am constantly aware of Your unfailing love. David reveals his secret for endurance through adverse circumstances -- perspective. Everything he views comes into focus through the lens of God's love. The characters of circumstance blur in the background drawing attention to the clear image of Sovereign grace.
Without the correct lens, the characters draw too much attention to themselves, detracting from the image that is meant to be accented. Yet the Lord has provided the lens of His love as a means by which we might see every aspect of our lives as an occasion for His glory. Every believer possesses this lens, but must choose to make use of it. Often, the knowledge of its quality and the initial desire for its outcome are soon overpowered by competitors offering deceivingly appealing perspectives.
My lens has been both challenged and put to use this week. The strains of a competitive graduate school at a secular university provide many opportunities to either use or neglect this lense. And my "practice pains" have risen to a new level, but just in time for me to read this verse this morning! I am grateful to the Lord for His grace in allowing me to see His love in my difficulties.
The New Living Translation reads, "I am constantly aware of Your unfailing love. David reveals his secret for endurance through adverse circumstances -- perspective. Everything he views comes into focus through the lens of God's love. The characters of circumstance blur in the background drawing attention to the clear image of Sovereign grace.
Without the correct lens, the characters draw too much attention to themselves, detracting from the image that is meant to be accented. Yet the Lord has provided the lens of His love as a means by which we might see every aspect of our lives as an occasion for His glory. Every believer possesses this lens, but must choose to make use of it. Often, the knowledge of its quality and the initial desire for its outcome are soon overpowered by competitors offering deceivingly appealing perspectives.
My lens has been both challenged and put to use this week. The strains of a competitive graduate school at a secular university provide many opportunities to either use or neglect this lense. And my "practice pains" have risen to a new level, but just in time for me to read this verse this morning! I am grateful to the Lord for His grace in allowing me to see His love in my difficulties.
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