Ch. 759 - Truths upon Truths

Oh, to be known by my Lord God... this is my delight.
Oh, to be loved by my Lord God... this is my joy.

And I am His delight. I am His joy.

I am not worthless.
I am of great value in His sight.

He has a plan for me.
A beautiful plan.
A challenging plan.
A plan that has been created to benefit His kingdom.

Redeemed.
Restored.
Refreshed.

I am so thankful that I was made for loving Him.


'For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.'
[1 Peter 1:18-19]

Ch. 758 - Touch

This may sound weird... but I like to touch. It seems like I always have to be holding or touching something - it usually comes down to my hair, a pen, or my earring(s). I think that the sense of touch can tell us so much about things. And people, too.

Is something new? Or perhaps aged and worn? It something soft, or rough? Smooth, or ragged and uneven? Is a table made of real wood, or has it been covered with a veneer that looks like wood? Is something supple, or hard? Dry, or wet? Are a person's hands calloused, or well taken care of? Is a person's wealth made obvious in the fabrics they choose to clothe themselves with?

You can only know something to such a degree by seeing it, hearing it, tasting it, smelling it... well, by touching it, too. But I feel that touch reveals something's depth. It brings to the table a new facet of said somethings. Touch brings about an understanding of the reality of things; they "come to life". I think this is partly why people have such a difficult time coming to know, understand, or desire God... He cannot be touched. We cannot grasp Who or What He is based on that sense. Or any others, really. Well. I suppose we can believe that He is beautiful based on what we see in nature or people, but otherwise, we cannot understand Him or have a deeper sense of Him [based on what our senses lead us to know/believe].

However. Perhaps it is safe to say that people are able to realize a facet of God based on touch. What about those who are healed from the laying on of hands? If someone is healed due to the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through the hands of a believer with the gift of healing, wouldn't the person who was healed come to understand and believe that God is the Healer? As long as glory is given to Him, all parties involved - especially the healed - should know that ultimately, God healed the inflicted. Obviously it may not be the touch itself that initiates the healing, but rather faith - but the touch of the person who has the gift allows God to work through that faith and that person.

I love the fact that God can use healings to show Himself to both believers and nonbelievers alike. Yet I do believe that it takes faith upon the part of the inflicted in order to be healed, not just the person who has that gift, based on what I read in the Bible. Even so, nonbelievers, or those to whom faith is not "real", may see these healings and come to see and know God is at work and real. So I suppose that it is possible to know a part of God through the sense of touch, technically. It may be a bit of a stretch, I realize, but it makes sense to me... especially since I do believe that God continues to give the gift of healing to people today - and does miraculous and wonderful things through His children. All glory to God, always!


'When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.'
[Matthew 8:1-3]

Ch. 757 - Fields and Vineyards

'I went past the field of the sluggard,
past the vineyard of the man who
lacks judgment;
thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I
saw:
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest -
and poverty will come on you like a
bandit
and scarcity like an armed man.'
[Proverb 24:30-34]

I think the sight and lesson described in these verses can be applied to our very being and hearts, at times. If we don't keep up in our relationships with God, and don't come to Him for nourishment, we will become thorny, dry, and remain unpruned. This is not good for us. We need the living water, the bread of life... and we need the true, strong protection of our God to surround our hearts and spirits. Neglect is an awful thing. It says we care not about ourselves - but God created us as His dear children and abusing ourselves in such a way is disrespectful to our Creator. Turn to Him to be nourished and grown in ways that we cannot make happen ourselves.

Ch. 756 - Instructions and Promises

Various verses of Psalm 37:

(1) Do not fret, or be envious.
(3) Trust in the Lord and do good.
(4) Delight yourself in the Lord.
(5) Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him.
(7) Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
(8) Refrain from anger and turn from wrath.
(27) Turn from evil and do good.
(34) Wait for the Lord and keep His way.
(37) Consider the blameless, observe the upright.

[for]

(3) He will give you safe pasture.
(4) He will give you the desires of your heart.
(6) He will make your righteousness shine.
(11) He will give [the meek] great peace.
(18) He will give [the blameless] an inheritance that endures forever.
(23) He will make your steps firm, upholding you.
(28) He will give you eternal protection.
(39) He will be your stronghold.
(40) He will help you and deliver you.

Why would anyone not desire to have a relationship with the Lord God of this psalm that His servant David wrote? These promises are beautiful and eternal, constantly kept for those who follow Him. Oh, how truly blessed I am.

Ch. 755 - Wisdom Stems from Suffering

... Job 22:21-28.

Submit.
Be at peace.
Accept instruction.
Lay up His words.
Return.
Remove wickedness.

Surely then...

You will find delight in Him; you will lift up your face.
You will pray to Him; He will hear you.
What you decide will be done; light will shine on your ways.

I really think that these verses can be applied to man today. These words of advice from Eliphaz, a friend of Job, can be taken by anyone who truly desires to draw near to God, know Him, and be in His will. When our lives revolve around Him, we will prosper. God will bless us. He will give us the desires of our hearts, so long as they are truly in alignment with His plans for us. And you know, even though these verses contain things we should be doing, they really boil down to simply spending time with God, or being in His word... so actually, it all returns to the concept of being with Him. Which... I mean... isn't that what He wants us to "do" anyway?

Ch. 754 - Roll

God is so much bigger than you.
... Than me.

Why is it so difficult for us to lay to rest the trivial matters that do not even affect our personal salvations? Our personal ministries? Our personal relationships with the God Who loves us more than we know... ?

More often than not, no one is to blame but yourself when these things are affected in such a way that is deemed undesirable, unfair, unreasonable, irrational, upsetting, etc.

When are we going to accept the fact that we do not know what is best?
When are we going to accept the fact that we need to learn to trust?
When are we going to accept the fact that change happens?

... Sometimes simply embracing change makes it all the more easy to understand, rather than kicking against the goads trying to comprehend all the facets of said change. Learn things for yourself. Don't skip around between multiple points of view.

Multiple stories.
Multiple lies.
Multiple hurts.

Turn away from that which is meaningless.
Turn, in entirety, to Him Who reigns on high.
... To Him Who is above all else.


' "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness..." '
[Matthew 6:33a]

......

Click here to revisit Chapter 356.

Ch. 753 - Held

Learning.
Always learning.
Always learning about myself.
Always learning about myself, always learning about God.

And His will for my life.
And what He desires of me.

Let me tell you... having truth spoken into your life is good.
Truly, truly, truly good.
But man oh man can it hurt.

Sometimes I am amazed at how greatly I struggle without even realizing it.
Sometimes I have no idea where to begin, after having been picked up by God.

I am... overwhelmed.
I am... lonely.
But I am not alone.

......

Click here to revisit Chapter 350.

Wait.

What a week.

I don't think I've ever thought, 'I can't write.'

I don't always feel like writing.
Yet I will anyway.
Even when I don't write any blog posts, I still write in my journal.

......

But right now that's what I find myself thinking.
'I can't write.'
And I hate it.

......

I am doing fine.
It hasn't been the best week... whatsoever.
But I am fine. Good, even.
I was really encouraged in talking to a couple people last night.
Inspired.
I simply feel like I have a lot to go over in my mind and heart.

So for now, that's what I'm going to do.
I'm going to figure this out.
... Whatever "this" may be.

I have heavenly hope.
I have earthly joy [which is fine for now].
I have a Savior Who loves me.

These are enough.

Trust.
Faith.

These are enough.

Ch. 752 - Harvest of Hope

"What is a harvest of hope?"

A professor asked one of my friends that question tonight. He has to speak in regards to what that is this week in chapel... it is Missions Emphasis Week at school and every year we steal the National Missionary Convention's theme [the NMC is in November]. Anyway - he's been trying to figure it out, but has no idea what a harvest of hope is. My friend wasn't sure, either. So she said that she would go around and ask others what it could possibly mean, and then get back to him. I happened to be the first person she asked the question to.

I wasn't sure what to make of the question, at first. I had to sit and think for a few moments. I really had no idea what to say, how to answer. A harvest of hope... a harvest of hope... a harvest of hope... a harvest of hope. Hm.

Well. The following is what I came up with, along with a couple interjections from said friend [N] and another friend of ours [J] who happened to be around while this singular Q&A was taking place.

There is, indeed, a harvest happening. We want hope to take root in people as they learn about Jesus. But really, we cannot harvest hope. We cannot have a harvest of hope. Because that would mean that we are taking hope away from someone, someplace, something. Believers should desire to instill hope within others. We want hope to grow within people. Over time, it will turn into faith. People become followers of Christ. Now, a harvest is the gathering/taking in of a crop. The harvested crop is then used. For example, when you harvest food, you may sell it... eat it... preserve it for the winter months... etc. Again: you use what you harvest. So when you fully come to understand the hope that has been shared/taught/offered you, that hope in Christ... and you come to maturity... you should be willing to be used by God, having been harvested. Then you can be the one to plant seeds of hope within others.

{"J" reminded us that Christ is the great Harvester. We may be preparing the fields, but He is the One who will gather the crop.}

{And "N" reminded us that Christ gives people something to hope in. People place hope in a lot of different things. When what they are putting hope in fails, it can be devastating. Feelings of hopelessness can even cause people to take their lives.}

But hope gives life.
Both physical and spiritual.

So. Recap:
When hope is placed in the right thing, Jesus, life can fully be grasped. Hope turns into faith. When faith is had by someone, they come to have new life in Jesus. The people who have that new life are those whom we call "the harvest". Thus, through faith, you technically can have a harvest of hope... a harvest planted by hope.

Hope --> Faith --> Harvest --> Discipleship --> Maturation --> Multiplication --> New planters of Hope... oh, what a beautiful cycle.

......

Click here to revisit Chapter 346.

Return

Two weeks.

Here I am.

Seasons and winds of testing, indeed.
Seasons and winds of refreshing... not so much.

They shall come in due time.

For now, I continue to turn to God at all times.