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"Cause us to hear Your lovingkindness for on You do we lean and in You do we trust. Cause us to know the way wherein we should walk, for we lift up our inner self to You." Psalm 143:8
"Cause us to hear Your lovingkindness for on You do we lean and in You do we trust. Cause us to know the way wherein we should walk, for we lift up our inner self to You." Psalm 143:8
5 comments:
In Matthew, I just really liked verse 16. It's so hopeful.
Acts was a wake up call. A lot of times I forget that God is not only loving but just and righteous and our life is at his mercy. This passage really challenged me esp how the man "kept back...for himself..."
In contrast, in Genesis, "you *fear God*, because you have not withheld from me *your son, your only son*." Funny how much the two passages go together. Also, God did not withhold *his son, his only son* from *us* because of his incredible *love*. It's a strange comparison because God deserved Abraham's sacrifice but we so didn't deserve God's sacrifice.
Also in Gen 21:22 "'God is with you in everything you do.'" is really encouraging.
I liked the Psalm a lot. It really is just so crazy that GOD chose *us*.
Sorry my lack of html skills lols..btw my mom's surgery went well but please pray for her recovery. Thanks!!
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 4:17) I'm convinced that even as the atrocities of the world occur, God still calls us to repent, for ourselves, but also on behalf of all nations. My prayer for each of us is that as we begin to understand a little more of what the kingdom of heaven is like, the more we will desire after it and the more we will strive to see God's kingdom come in all its fulfillment. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." (Matthew 13:44-45)
I recently read a book called _Surprised by Jesus_ by Tim Stafford (which I highly recommend). In it, he briefly discusses the idea from the Four Spiritual Laws (it's a popular evangelistic track). The first law is: God loves you and has a wonderful plan for you. This is incredible to think about, but what is more incredible is that Stafford points out, God loves the world and has a wonderful plan for redeeming and restoring the cosmos. THAT is incredible to think about! Now this is the kingdom of heaven-- some type of massive, global, worldwide redemption and restoration.
I just finished Reimagining Evangelism by Rick Richardson, and he also made a similar point. He said a lot of times the gospel is reduced to an "individualistic message about freedom from guilt and fire insurance after we die." But, "Salvation is the restoration of God's gracious rule, in the past, present and future, for individuals, communities, nations and all creation." Yes, that is indeed pretty awesome =D
wow i want to read that book now
haha me too. but there are still so many unread books on my shelf... -_-;;
Ananias, who refused to give up the world and his former way of life for God in Acts 5:2 is a lot like Lot's wife, who could not leave behind her home in order to find a home in heaven. If Ananias gave up his money, he would have been able to experience something better, which is the sharing of possessions with the believers, and unity. If Lot's wife gave up her hometown, she would have been able to experience life and salvation. Her and Ananias' refusal to give up their old ways ultimately resulted in their deaths. I want to be able to let go of the things that keep me from experiencing God in a greater way.
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