The rapid rolling of the seasons brings a constant call for reevaluation-- at every juncture, may I choose You. At every crossroads, may I follow You. Every time I pack up boxes and sort through belongings, dubbing some worthy to keep and some worthless, may I leave behind a little more of me and carry forward You, more purified in my understanding. You, less diluted by all the extra. You, a little clearer and closer and dearer to my heart than ever before. You are all that is worth keeping, all that is worth carrying, all that is worth clinging to from here into forever.
Only one life,
'Twill soon be past;
Only what's done
For Christ will last.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Quick to say uncle
"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
-Paul, in 2 Corinthians 2
I've been seeing a great deal of two extremes lately. This summer has been the end of a long dry season in my life, and I have been blessed greatly by opportunities for sweet fellowship with Jesus and some of my best friends. There have been a good number of moments lately where I've had my breath taken away by just how beautiful life can be.
At the same time, I'm watching a number of friends deal with circumstances on the opposite side of the spectrum. Losing a child or a friend, facing sickness and injury, looking ahead to long months or years of struggle and isolation-- there is no doubt in my mind that this world is broken.
But here's what hit me today: we are so quick to say uncle. We are so quick to ask for God's mercy, and to ask that He will deliver us from anything that begins to feel uncomfortable. Now, God is merciful, and I am thankful for that. But as I watch my friends face their challenges, I see pure gold start to come through in their character. Faith that hadn't had a chance to shine is being refined and coming out strong and beautiful. What do we miss if we always seek an easy life? Are we begging for deliverance from God's very means of blessing and refining us? Are we more concerned with our comfort or His glory?
"In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!"
-Jesus, in John 16
-Paul, in 2 Corinthians 2
I've been seeing a great deal of two extremes lately. This summer has been the end of a long dry season in my life, and I have been blessed greatly by opportunities for sweet fellowship with Jesus and some of my best friends. There have been a good number of moments lately where I've had my breath taken away by just how beautiful life can be.
At the same time, I'm watching a number of friends deal with circumstances on the opposite side of the spectrum. Losing a child or a friend, facing sickness and injury, looking ahead to long months or years of struggle and isolation-- there is no doubt in my mind that this world is broken.
But here's what hit me today: we are so quick to say uncle. We are so quick to ask for God's mercy, and to ask that He will deliver us from anything that begins to feel uncomfortable. Now, God is merciful, and I am thankful for that. But as I watch my friends face their challenges, I see pure gold start to come through in their character. Faith that hadn't had a chance to shine is being refined and coming out strong and beautiful. What do we miss if we always seek an easy life? Are we begging for deliverance from God's very means of blessing and refining us? Are we more concerned with our comfort or His glory?
"In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!"
-Jesus, in John 16
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)