my favorites!

Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.

Dr. Seuss

I’m quickly learning that my most favorite people in the world tend to have been the most encouraging people to me throughout my life.  I think that sounds selfish at first but I can’t help but feel love and admiration toward those who have always freely lent me advice, wisdom, and laughter but especially encouragement when I needed it.

So to those of you out there whom I’m so lucky to have in my life, THANK YOU!  Your encouragement forward and understanding words have always gone a long way with me and has made all the difference.  I promise I’ll do my best to do the same for you.

Alby

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.

Albert Einstein

yay!

Today I finished reading through the Bible for the first time in my life.

Reason for Struggle

See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defiled? I will not yield my glory to another.

Isaiah 48:10-11

All matters, both favorable and difficult, are for the sole purpose of bringing glory to God. Through the difficult, we must always remember to remain faithful to Him as during the favorable. Praise God for His desire to refine us!

Press Onward

Friends, when once a man is launched on such an adventure as this, he must bid farewell to hopes and fears, otherwise death or deliverance will both come too late to save his honor and his reason.

Price Rilian, The Silver Chair

Lamp on a Stand

‘No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.’  Luke 8:16-18

Having 21 years of life under my belt and having not gotten myself killed just yet, I feel I have earned my right to expect some independence and trust from my parents. My midnight curfew was lifted long ago and freedom typically abound regarding where I go or when I return. The late night calls when I’m out are less frequent (which I actually miss but I’ll never admit it) and I usually return home to find my parents already fast asleep. Hopefully these changes have stemmed from my parents seeing maturity and responsibility in my life as I have grown. One thing, however, remains unchanged – the porch light left on by my father. It’s always left on until I find my way home to switch it off for the night. His desire for me to be at home with him persists always as does my desire to find safety with him.

Know that Jesus shares this parable not for His sake but for ours. That we may grow in our faith by living it BOLDLY. That others may see it and know Jesus Christ for themselves. I’m reminded to live with faith that can be seen. And not so that I will be seen but so the God I serve can be seen! I’m reminded to live with vulnerability and openness because God’s light will reveal all regardless. Our readiness to bear the burdens of others brings so much glory to Him. This is such an exciting time to follow God.

Divine Curiosity

Charge to Solomon

David, the greatest king God has ever placed over Israel, in his last days speaks to his son of the work ahead,

‘And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.  If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.’ 1 Chronicles 28:9-10

The sanctuary spoken of here is the temple of God to be raised, after the past decades of war and violence securing the land from the enemies of God. It is to be raised for no reason other than the worship and glory of the One who has all and gives all. With every colored stone, silver plate, gold bar and more, David explains to his son the marvel that this temple would be; standing tall as a monument of God’s faithfulness in deliverance and love for his people and NOTHING else. Every object in the temple purposed for the worship of God. Every action to bring God glory. Every man to seek the Lord in all he does.

The process would be daunting, difficult and a struggle; success dependent only on Solomon’s unwavering fellowship with God. Even David acknowledges that Solomon will need to rely on every single bricklayer and refiner to complete this task.

The same difficulties. The same fellowship. The same faithfulness on God and on all of whom he provides. The very same temple. We’re reading about ourselves here. We are called to make our very lives like this temple, a place for God to be worshiped in spirit and in truth. This is going to be difficult but let’s be strong and do the work.

Great and Worthy

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place.  1 Chronicles 16:25-26

Victory

God’s desire and purpose are to be glorified in each of our lives. Satan is doing all that he can to deprive God of His glory. He tempts us to sin and live for self. He creates doubts and defeats us with deceptive truths that contradict the promises of God’s Word. He leads us to live compromised lives, influenced by the materialism and the carnal values of the world around us. But God has given us the victory. Our call is to walk in obedience to His holiness, being led of His Spirit. We are to recognize that conflict with the world and self-interest will entail suffering. But to die to self and give our lives, sacrificing everything in terms of comfort and self-serving gratification out of the love Christ brings to our heart, results in a life of victory in which God will be glorified.

Jerry Rankin, Spiritual Warfare

We gain everything when we lay down everything. When the indulgence of sin is thrown aside for the joy of following Christ, the battle is won. When our comforts mean nothing, but love our only concern and faithfulness our only action, God is made known. Ultimately, when we lay down our lives for the glory of God, what more can evil do? What is left for it to steal? Sweet victory is in Christ alone.