"O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds. “Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you."
(Habakkuk 1:2-5 NKJV)
"Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
(Habakkuk 3:17, 18 NKJV)
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
On Politics On Election Day...
Today it is decided: who will lead our country for the next four years. And I admit I was nervous for a while! What would happen to our country if our current president continues in office?
And this is why I cannot think well of him:
Any man who does not submit to the laws God has put in place for the world creates his own standard for morality, and shakes his fist at his creator. A country that supports that is anything but Christian.
I've started listening to Christmas music already, and the lyrics to "Do You Hear What I Hear" bothered me. Can you imagine how history would be different if the king HAD admitted and proclaimed that Christ would "bring us goodness and light"?
Herod was a king who shook his fist at God, loved his power, knew no one could take it from him, and (oh, the similarities) approved (ordered) the killing of thousands of babies.
But if Christ had received honor instead of derision and hatred... Obviously, Christ's death (and all the apparent dishonor that it included) was God's plan.
People who shook their fists at their Creator crucified Him, and because of that I HAVE LIFE!
"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."
(Genesis 50:20 NKJV)
Have a happy Election Day, and remember, no matter what happens:
"The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes."
(Proverbs 21:1 NKJV)
And this is why I cannot think well of him:
Any man who does not submit to the laws God has put in place for the world creates his own standard for morality, and shakes his fist at his creator. A country that supports that is anything but Christian.
I've started listening to Christmas music already, and the lyrics to "Do You Hear What I Hear" bothered me. Can you imagine how history would be different if the king HAD admitted and proclaimed that Christ would "bring us goodness and light"?
Herod was a king who shook his fist at God, loved his power, knew no one could take it from him, and (oh, the similarities) approved (ordered) the killing of thousands of babies.
But if Christ had received honor instead of derision and hatred... Obviously, Christ's death (and all the apparent dishonor that it included) was God's plan.
People who shook their fists at their Creator crucified Him, and because of that I HAVE LIFE!
"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."
(Genesis 50:20 NKJV)
Have a happy Election Day, and remember, no matter what happens:
"The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes."
(Proverbs 21:1 NKJV)
Monday, November 5, 2012
Thanksgiving 400-425
400. Books!
401. Running feeling good
402. Sectionals tonight
403. Oregon football on TV in Ohio
404. U of O doing so well
405. 23 more countries mapped on my wall
406. John's ninja dodge- so funny!
407. Funny conversations at church
408. Funny friends
409. Being able to laugh freely
410. Amy giving great blog advice
411. Amy is my friend!!
412. Spinach sandwiches
413. The fish tank, and the memories it holds
414. My new CD
415. Election Day
416. Not being in danger of my life because of my political views.
417. Forgiveness. Again and again.
418. Mom's encouragement
419. People who approve
420. People who don't, and how they push me to examine myself and what I believe
421. Logic
422. Deep thought and sweet poetry that doesn't fit in America
423. The sermons over the past few months, and how they apply so well today
424. That sermon right after we moved that I STILL remember
425. God having power over my heart
401. Running feeling good
402. Sectionals tonight
403. Oregon football on TV in Ohio
404. U of O doing so well
405. 23 more countries mapped on my wall
406. John's ninja dodge- so funny!
407. Funny conversations at church
408. Funny friends
409. Being able to laugh freely
410. Amy giving great blog advice
411. Amy is my friend!!
412. Spinach sandwiches
413. The fish tank, and the memories it holds
414. My new CD
415. Election Day
416. Not being in danger of my life because of my political views.
417. Forgiveness. Again and again.
418. Mom's encouragement
419. People who approve
420. People who don't, and how they push me to examine myself and what I believe
421. Logic
422. Deep thought and sweet poetry that doesn't fit in America
423. The sermons over the past few months, and how they apply so well today
424. That sermon right after we moved that I STILL remember
425. God having power over my heart
On Warmth and Good Books...
Today it is cold outside, the political calls are unceasing (at least it feels that way), and the trees are almost entirely bare.
But I have BOOKS. To read in the safety and warmth of my house. To enjoy and savor. To read myself warm.
And that's what makes school amazing: it's made up of BOOKS. And you and I have every opportunity to read wonderful literature.
The president cannot (at least yet) take away books and reading and knowledge and the free exchange of ideas.
We have access to books no matter our income. Nothing, absolutely nothing, prevents us from reading.
This was not always the case everywhere. And I am THANKFUL to live in the USA during the 21st century, and read...all day.
So let the wind blow, the phone ring, and the day go on. I'll be in my warm house, reading.
Happy Monday!
But I have BOOKS. To read in the safety and warmth of my house. To enjoy and savor. To read myself warm.
And that's what makes school amazing: it's made up of BOOKS. And you and I have every opportunity to read wonderful literature.
The president cannot (at least yet) take away books and reading and knowledge and the free exchange of ideas.
We have access to books no matter our income. Nothing, absolutely nothing, prevents us from reading.
This was not always the case everywhere. And I am THANKFUL to live in the USA during the 21st century, and read...all day.
So let the wind blow, the phone ring, and the day go on. I'll be in my warm house, reading.
Happy Monday!
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Thanksgiving 334-400
Keeping on counting...
334. An afternoon with a friend I haven't seen in a long time.
335. Dutch Blitz
336. Annie being adorable!!
337. Chores–done
338. A violin piece coming together...one measure at a time
339. Conversations I'm looking forward to
340. A pile of good books to read
341. "I understand" type conversations
342. God has plans for everything, and they won't be frustrated
343. New songs to listen to when I run
344. Good news about sports next year
345. Working the church website!
346. Teaching crochet to two (maybe three) willing girls
347. Baby O doing well after surgery!
348. God loves me even when I'm unthankful
349. Christmas music with Mom today
350. Chatting with D
351. A best friend who really understands and loves me anyway
352. Prayers for her
353. Good food...always more of it around...
354. Europe and Asia now outlined on my map project
355. The part of it that S colored
356. (real life, not FB) mutual friends
357. Egg nog for winter
358. A quiet room
359. The Hobbit coming out soon, and all the conversations with H, and A, and C, and K about it
400. Dad caring about my writing
334. An afternoon with a friend I haven't seen in a long time.
335. Dutch Blitz
336. Annie being adorable!!
337. Chores–done
338. A violin piece coming together...one measure at a time
339. Conversations I'm looking forward to
340. A pile of good books to read
341. "I understand" type conversations
342. God has plans for everything, and they won't be frustrated
343. New songs to listen to when I run
344. Good news about sports next year
345. Working the church website!
346. Teaching crochet to two (maybe three) willing girls
347. Baby O doing well after surgery!
348. God loves me even when I'm unthankful
349. Christmas music with Mom today
350. Chatting with D
351. A best friend who really understands and loves me anyway
352. Prayers for her
353. Good food...always more of it around...
354. Europe and Asia now outlined on my map project
355. The part of it that S colored
356. (real life, not FB) mutual friends
357. Egg nog for winter
358. A quiet room
359. The Hobbit coming out soon, and all the conversations with H, and A, and C, and K about it
400. Dad caring about my writing
Thursday, November 1, 2012
On The Death Of Saints...
Today I read the final pages of "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan, and as I read of the death of Christian and Hopeful, and their subsequent glory and joy in Heaven, I could not help but think about death and hope.
And they should go together for Christians.
We as Christians have nothing to lose, and everything to gain from death. The end of the race, and the point at which we will be able to glorify God without end, without our flesh to harden the task and weigh us down. How against society--to welcome death!
But death is the enemy; how can we welcome it?
Today is All Saints Day, and even the Protestant Church celebrated this holiday at one time (some denominations still do). A day to remember and celebrate the ones who have gone before us.
Today is the eight month anniversary of the day that I was told a coworker of a friend was shot to death in Iraq, teaching in an English-speaking school just a few hours before. How do you reconcile hope with the seeming hopelessness of death? How are we supposed to say that everything will be okay, when that does NOT appear to be the case? But there is still hope.
Next week I will travel to Indiana and meet someone who nearly died twice this year. My parents' friends' son. The one with a tumor on his brain, the one who had surgeries, and the one who cannot swallow or walk. He has hope.
This month is my grandma's birthday month. The grandma who died in Washington while we sat in Ohio, praying. And how on earth am I expected to have hope? But still, hope is there, in me.
Because. Because death has been defeated.
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
~1 Corinthians 15:55
And they should go together for Christians.
We as Christians have nothing to lose, and everything to gain from death. The end of the race, and the point at which we will be able to glorify God without end, without our flesh to harden the task and weigh us down. How against society--to welcome death!
But death is the enemy; how can we welcome it?
Today is All Saints Day, and even the Protestant Church celebrated this holiday at one time (some denominations still do). A day to remember and celebrate the ones who have gone before us.
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."And so, I will remember.
~Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
Today is the eight month anniversary of the day that I was told a coworker of a friend was shot to death in Iraq, teaching in an English-speaking school just a few hours before. How do you reconcile hope with the seeming hopelessness of death? How are we supposed to say that everything will be okay, when that does NOT appear to be the case? But there is still hope.
Next week I will travel to Indiana and meet someone who nearly died twice this year. My parents' friends' son. The one with a tumor on his brain, the one who had surgeries, and the one who cannot swallow or walk. He has hope.
This month is my grandma's birthday month. The grandma who died in Washington while we sat in Ohio, praying. And how on earth am I expected to have hope? But still, hope is there, in me.
Because. Because death has been defeated.
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"And if I am 100% convinced of that, then I can sleep in peace tonight.
~Romans 8:38-39
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
~1 Corinthians 15:55
A Letter To YOU...
Dear You,
Thank you for reading this blog. Thank you for coming faithfully to hear and see my heart out poured. It helps me, and I really hope you are blessed. I pray that this space will be used to glorify God above anything else, though.
Because that is when we are truly blessed– when we seek Him. I hope and pray that you will find that joy, and ask that you pray that I will push toward that goal myself.
You've seen– I am not always joyful, or thankful, or happy, but I WANT TO BE! And writing here helps. I begin desperately lost in my own head and heart, and we all know that the heart is desperately wicked! As I write I am drawn out and up, and begin to see what I ought. Then I try to put that to words.
So, thank you. Thank you for coming along for the journey, and know this: I'm glad you're here.
Love,
Rachel
P.S. Faithful blog-followers, would you consider sharing this blog with someone? Perhaps use the "share" button found at the bottom of each post? Thanks!
Thank you for reading this blog. Thank you for coming faithfully to hear and see my heart out poured. It helps me, and I really hope you are blessed. I pray that this space will be used to glorify God above anything else, though.
Because that is when we are truly blessed– when we seek Him. I hope and pray that you will find that joy, and ask that you pray that I will push toward that goal myself.
You've seen– I am not always joyful, or thankful, or happy, but I WANT TO BE! And writing here helps. I begin desperately lost in my own head and heart, and we all know that the heart is desperately wicked! As I write I am drawn out and up, and begin to see what I ought. Then I try to put that to words.
So, thank you. Thank you for coming along for the journey, and know this: I'm glad you're here.
Love,
Rachel
P.S. Faithful blog-followers, would you consider sharing this blog with someone? Perhaps use the "share" button found at the bottom of each post? Thanks!
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