again and again
broken
faith
spirit
pride
wondering if I'll ever learn the lesson that I can't do anything worthwhile on my own.
and that it's not about my doing that gives me worth.
how is it that i go from peace to frantic to frustrated to resolved all in a matter of moments?
God have mercy on me, a sinner.
I choose to rest in You.
Casting all my cares, you are my rock and redeemer. May I live in the knowledge and grace of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ my Lord.
For without that, there is no point...
Today is my friend, Brad's, birthday. So I thought I'd take a moment and give a shout out to him.
He really is one of the best examples of friend I've ever known. He is encouraging, thoughtful, wise, spiritually sound and challenging, funny as all get out, amazingly talented (ok so that last one doesn't necessarily qualify in the 'example of friend' part, but it's true).
He has been blessed with the ability to be real and transparent, loving and honest. For that I am truly blessed.
The well of love he has for the Lord and for others is seemingly always full to overflowing. For that I am truly spurred on to good deeds.
It's been exciting for me to see God use him through good times and bad, in various educational and ministry settings.
Today I take a moment to praise God for this incredible man who He has called to Himself. Thinking over the past seven years since I met him, and pondering the ways our paths have crossed time and again, I am certain that God is sovereign and loving and is the giver of good gifts.
I am honored to share this journey we call life with such an honorable friend, one who is full of integrity and insight, hope and life.
Brad thanks for who you are and for choosing to be that to me.
another day
Someone gave thanks for the chance to breathe. I, too, am thankful for such. The intricacies involved in inhaling and exhaling, the inner workings of the organs sometimes catches me off guard in amazement.
It's snowing again. For some reason, the snow ignites my desire to create with words the thoughts that swirl around, sometimes linger in my head.
It's gray out, but I tend to see things only in black and white.
I'm currently mulling over Colossians 3:1-17. Thought I'd give you the chance to do the same.
1So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. 2Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ--that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
3Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life--even though invisible to spectators--is with Christ in God. He is your life. 4When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too--the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
5And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. 6It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. 7It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. 8But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.
9Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. 10Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. 11Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
12So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. 13Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. 14And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
15Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. 16Let the Word of Christ--the Message--have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! 17Let every detail in your lives--words, actions, whatever--be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
