Today = Matthew 1-2 + Exodus 20-23 + Proverbs 9-10
Tonight I feel so blessed for so many reasons. First, I'm finally done with the week! and now starts spring break! I'm staying at school for the break, which might sound completely and totally boring.. but I'm so excited! I get to bake and run and talk to people downtown and work and work on my projects without being unbearably rushed! And BEST of all, my whole family is coming on Thursday!!! I can't even wait. I've been looking forward to it since mid-October. And another thing, I got to hang out with some awesome people to celebrate Linda Womer's birthday. Linda is an amazing woman from Terra Nova that heads the kids program. And now I get to read and then go to bed early. I'm just thrilled about life right now. I'm about to fall asleep, so I'm only going to comment quick, but in general, life is really really good!
So anyway, back to the scripture :)
I like Proverbs. It makes me think with each sentence, even though sometimes it seems pretty repetitive. Proverbs 9 and 10 talk much about the righteous and wise vs. the foolish. This specific passage is pretty famous:
"Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days iwll be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer." (Proverbs 9:8-12)
I like these verses because they challenge me to examine whether I am foolish or if I'm wise. Now of course calling myself wise is the beginning of my foolishness, but sometimes I think I feel like I'm pretty smart sometimes. Ha.. that's totally false. Why? Because I know that I do not always thank people for rebuking me, for challenging me. Sometimes I really don't feel like being pushed. Sometimes it's so much more appealing to be utterly and completely lazy. I'm working on my laziness. It's a ridiculously long process. (Myfoolish self just wishes I could ask God for wisdom as a birthday present.. butt something tell me that's not quite how it works ;)
Friday, March 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
.entertaining angels.
Today = Hebrews 13 + Exodus 18-19 + Proverbs 8
Well first, before I get into the passage, I just want to say how bless I am to have the Christian community I have here at RPI now. At the beginning of my freshman year, I had no inclination I would ever have good Christian friends, who challenge me and love me with Christ's love. But he has given me more than I had ever hoped for. It has been amazing getting involved with my church and with other groups and friends on campus. My only prayer now is that God would use me in these relationships to glorify Him.
Ok, so along the lines of this is Hebrews 13! Basically this chapter is chock full of amazingness. I would write the whole thing....but that would be excessively long. You should look it up though :) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews%2013&version=NIV
"Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." (Hebrews 13:1-3)
I am enamored and terrified of the thought of entertaining angels. I know that I definitely don't act in a way welcoming to angels, or even to humans for that matter, all the time. Not even close. But it's also a beautiful challenge. What an amazing thing that we are able to interact with angels?! Pretty cool. I'm pretty sure I've done just this before, but I had no clue at the time. Sometimes I'm glad for the way I interacted with these people, sometimes I'm so disappointed. But in every situation, there seems to be a pattern of them coming in the form of a child, an elderly woman, or someone not necessarily "regal." God did not come for the strong and righteous, but the weak, weary sinners.
I also love the last part, which is pretty self explanatory:
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:15-21)
Well first, before I get into the passage, I just want to say how bless I am to have the Christian community I have here at RPI now. At the beginning of my freshman year, I had no inclination I would ever have good Christian friends, who challenge me and love me with Christ's love. But he has given me more than I had ever hoped for. It has been amazing getting involved with my church and with other groups and friends on campus. My only prayer now is that God would use me in these relationships to glorify Him.
Ok, so along the lines of this is Hebrews 13! Basically this chapter is chock full of amazingness. I would write the whole thing....but that would be excessively long. You should look it up though :) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews%2013&version=NIV
"Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." (Hebrews 13:1-3)
I am enamored and terrified of the thought of entertaining angels. I know that I definitely don't act in a way welcoming to angels, or even to humans for that matter, all the time. Not even close. But it's also a beautiful challenge. What an amazing thing that we are able to interact with angels?! Pretty cool. I'm pretty sure I've done just this before, but I had no clue at the time. Sometimes I'm glad for the way I interacted with these people, sometimes I'm so disappointed. But in every situation, there seems to be a pattern of them coming in the form of a child, an elderly woman, or someone not necessarily "regal." God did not come for the strong and righteous, but the weak, weary sinners.
I also love the last part, which is pretty self explanatory:
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:15-21)
Monday, March 1, 2010
.worth it.
Today = Hebrews 11:23-40 + Exodus 15 + Proverbs 6:1-7:5
Ok, I'm going to try to make this a quick post because my computer is about to die and my charger is in studio!
I love Hebrews 11. It's one of those passages I go back to time and time again when ..well.. when I feel persecuted or made fun of, etc. Or when I feel blah. Which is probably the worst of them all.
"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had bee promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:32-40)
Yep, it's a pretty intense passage. I have never been put in chains or flogged due to my faith. My days are soooo much easier than they could be. I have brothers and sisters all over the world suffering these very things. But no matter what, God has something better for us. He is so extremely set apart from us and this world. And he is SO WORTH IT.
Ok, I'm going to try to make this a quick post because my computer is about to die and my charger is in studio!
I love Hebrews 11. It's one of those passages I go back to time and time again when ..well.. when I feel persecuted or made fun of, etc. Or when I feel blah. Which is probably the worst of them all.
"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had bee promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:32-40)
Yep, it's a pretty intense passage. I have never been put in chains or flogged due to my faith. My days are soooo much easier than they could be. I have brothers and sisters all over the world suffering these very things. But no matter what, God has something better for us. He is so extremely set apart from us and this world. And he is SO WORTH IT.
Friday, February 26, 2010
.glad to not be egyptian.
Today = Hebrews 9:23-10:18 + Exodus 9-10 + Proverbs 3
I realize I haven't commented much on the Old Testament passages... probably because, frankly, sometimes they are hard to relate to. But I stopped when I read these words in Exodus:
"For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." (Exodus 9:15-16)
This comes in the midst of God sending the plagues against Pharaoh and Egypt. I think sometimes I read the story and I wonder why God doesn't just wipe them out, or why he's pestering the people of Egypt who may have nothing to do with keeping the Israelites as slaves. But none of that really matters because the point is that God displays his ridiculously incredible power in each of the plagues and the signs that he sends. Again, I am humbled to see his glory set so drastically against my .....lameness. Ha, that's a horrible way to say it, but it's true. God's glory is displayed everywhere - in the snowstorms and the wind and the power, and the soft hush of the quiet afterwards. It's crazy stuff. We serve a crazy, amazing, powerful God.
I realize I haven't commented much on the Old Testament passages... probably because, frankly, sometimes they are hard to relate to. But I stopped when I read these words in Exodus:
"For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." (Exodus 9:15-16)
This comes in the midst of God sending the plagues against Pharaoh and Egypt. I think sometimes I read the story and I wonder why God doesn't just wipe them out, or why he's pestering the people of Egypt who may have nothing to do with keeping the Israelites as slaves. But none of that really matters because the point is that God displays his ridiculously incredible power in each of the plagues and the signs that he sends. Again, I am humbled to see his glory set so drastically against my .....lameness. Ha, that's a horrible way to say it, but it's true. God's glory is displayed everywhere - in the snowstorms and the wind and the power, and the soft hush of the quiet afterwards. It's crazy stuff. We serve a crazy, amazing, powerful God.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
.hidden treasure.
Today = Hebrews 9:1-22 + Exodus 6:28-8:32 + Proverbs 2
Honestly, Proverbs is just so useful. Of course, this is not to say that the rest of the Bible isn't, but somehow reading Proverbs always seems to refocus my attention. Which is definitely a good thing.
"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:1-5)
I really love all of the analogies and depictions of truly searching after God. Filling up our lives with the things of him and thirsting after it like we thirst for water. It challenges me extremely. I'm developing and hunger and thirst for these things, to look at them as the prize of my life. It's growing slowly, but it's growing :)
Honestly, Proverbs is just so useful. Of course, this is not to say that the rest of the Bible isn't, but somehow reading Proverbs always seems to refocus my attention. Which is definitely a good thing.
"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:1-5)
I really love all of the analogies and depictions of truly searching after God. Filling up our lives with the things of him and thirsting after it like we thirst for water. It challenges me extremely. I'm developing and hunger and thirst for these things, to look at them as the prize of my life. It's growing slowly, but it's growing :)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
.complacency.
Today = Hebrews 8 + Exodus 6:28-8:32 + Proverbs 1
well, yesterday was a complete blogging fail.. mostly because my internet failed. RPI's internet seems to be having major issues lately, and my internet likes to quit randomly when I least like it to. Sigh, oh well.
I get to start a new book today! Proverbs has always been a crazy book - it's just so.... instantly practical? I don't know if that's the best description. Anyway, I always feel young and foolish when I read it. I suppose that's a good thing.....because I'm definitely not wise in the slightest sometimes.
"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." (Proverbs 1:32-33)
These two verses stood out to me, I think first because it spoke of complacency. I think complacency can be a problem in all of our lives, but I have definitely felt it's affect in mine. It's so easy to find a pattern to sink into, one that isn't productive, but that's very comfortable. Looking back it seems idiotic, but in the present you have no thirst for change, a challenge. I love that if we listen to wisdom and put it to practice, we will live in safety and be at ease. I think it's kind of ironic though. Complacency happens, at least for me, because I don't want to take the effort or the risk of changing. I don't want to change my ways or push myself. But if we do push ourselves to live wisely, to answer God's call to wherever he leads us, it might be utterly chaotic, but we can be certain that we can still live in safety without fear of harm.
well, yesterday was a complete blogging fail.. mostly because my internet failed. RPI's internet seems to be having major issues lately, and my internet likes to quit randomly when I least like it to. Sigh, oh well.
I get to start a new book today! Proverbs has always been a crazy book - it's just so.... instantly practical? I don't know if that's the best description. Anyway, I always feel young and foolish when I read it. I suppose that's a good thing.....because I'm definitely not wise in the slightest sometimes.
"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." (Proverbs 1:32-33)
These two verses stood out to me, I think first because it spoke of complacency. I think complacency can be a problem in all of our lives, but I have definitely felt it's affect in mine. It's so easy to find a pattern to sink into, one that isn't productive, but that's very comfortable. Looking back it seems idiotic, but in the present you have no thirst for change, a challenge. I love that if we listen to wisdom and put it to practice, we will live in safety and be at ease. I think it's kind of ironic though. Complacency happens, at least for me, because I don't want to take the effort or the risk of changing. I don't want to change my ways or push myself. But if we do push ourselves to live wisely, to answer God's call to wherever he leads us, it might be utterly chaotic, but we can be certain that we can still live in safety without fear of harm.
Monday, February 22, 2010
.muck and mire.
Today = Hebrews 6:13-20 + Exodus 1-2 + Psalm 40
Well I wasn't going to post until I got back to my room tonight.. but I'm sitting here bored out of my mind at work because 1) I can't find any paper to make a crib sheet with (you'd think in an office you could find something.. ) and 2) reading through more Bible is always a good thing :)
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire; he set my feat on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." (Psalm 40:1-5)
I love the imagery of these verses. God lifts us out of "the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire." He takes us out of the darkest grossest messes, and brings us to a rock - a solid place in the midst of chaos. God's been teaching me a lot of humility lately, or at least I feel like it. Of course as I say that it's not longer the most humble thing.. but really God is showing me how perfect and amazing and glorious he is, just small glimpses at a time, while also showing me how crappy I am. Sounds bad, but God is so much more infinitely perfect and majestic than I could ever imagine. I am by nature messed up, but his grace is what pulls me out of that mire, bringing me into a place of amazing love and grace, hope and security. The more and more I grasp that fact, the more and more I feel like I need to hold on to him for dear life. He is truly my only lifeline. My All. My Everything.
Well I wasn't going to post until I got back to my room tonight.. but I'm sitting here bored out of my mind at work because 1) I can't find any paper to make a crib sheet with (you'd think in an office you could find something.. ) and 2) reading through more Bible is always a good thing :)
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire; he set my feat on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." (Psalm 40:1-5)
I love the imagery of these verses. God lifts us out of "the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire." He takes us out of the darkest grossest messes, and brings us to a rock - a solid place in the midst of chaos. God's been teaching me a lot of humility lately, or at least I feel like it. Of course as I say that it's not longer the most humble thing.. but really God is showing me how perfect and amazing and glorious he is, just small glimpses at a time, while also showing me how crappy I am. Sounds bad, but God is so much more infinitely perfect and majestic than I could ever imagine. I am by nature messed up, but his grace is what pulls me out of that mire, bringing me into a place of amazing love and grace, hope and security. The more and more I grasp that fact, the more and more I feel like I need to hold on to him for dear life. He is truly my only lifeline. My All. My Everything.
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