Ch. 722 - Footsteps

I desire to follow in His footsteps.

'I will follow the Lamb.'
[My Confession by Misty Edwards]

... What an odd-sounding statement.

Aren't lambs supposed to follow?
He is the Shepherd and and the Lamb.
[Regardless...]
His path is narrow.
Uneven.
Rocky.
Sandy.
But it is well-traveled.

And we have a beautiful Guide to call out to if we stray off the path and need help.

He is the Navigator.
The Compass.
The Light.
The Retriever.

He is Power.
Strength.
Boldness.

He is a risk-taker, even.

I can rest in Him. Take heart and courage... find peace. Yet He also comes to rest in me - His garden. I am His lovely dwelling place. And like any garden gives me joy, I give Him joy and delight.


'The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" '
[John 1:29]

......

Click here to revisit Chapter 178.

Ch. 696 - Bread

'Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." '
[John 6:35]

I think if Jesus were a type of bread, He would be WonderBread.
Wheat bread, though... none of that white bread crap.
... Stupid white-Jesus paintings...

Ch. 695 - What do I experience?

' "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil." '
[John 7:7, NASB]

'A true born-again believer who is living a life for God's glory should experience the hatred and antagonism of the world.'
- John MacArthur

Ch. 694 - Chosen

He makes all things new.
He keeps all of His promises.

This is the God that gave me life.

He has given me purpose.
He has great plans for me.

I can only imagine what He will have me do for Him in the future.


' "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." '
[John 15:16]

Ch. 690 - Voice Through Words

The following is part of a "Weekly Wisdom" from a daily Bible verse site. It's pretty redundant... but it's good in that it gets a fantastic point across.

'John 8:31-32 says, 'To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."'

If we hold to His teaching, meaning live in it, abide in it, and follow it, then we will know the truth. That's exactly the way hearing from God works. When we abide in his word, we will know his voice, which is truth.

All of scripture is God talking to His people. Thus, in order to hear from God, you must know scripture. God has given us scripture, and He calls it His word. It is the word of God. So how do you know God's talking to you? It is His word that He talks through.'

Ch. 657 - Opportunity

'Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" '
[John 11:40]

Glory.
How do we see the glory of God in our day-to-day lives?

Think.

Ch. 346 - Believe, Friends

'Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" '
[John 11:40]

5. October 2010 Edit:

Do we even have an inkling as to what the glory of God is? Or do we have to wait until we are home with the Father to experience and see His glory? Sometimes I think that we think nothing of it. That it doesn't matter. Mostly because, I believe, we simply cannot imagine what that glory is truly like. I wonder... when we do something "for the glory of God" if that deed, when attributed to Him, simply makes His glory all the more wondrous. Could that even be possible? I mean, if something is done by human hands - albeit through the power of God - would it be returned to Him and added to that already existing glory so that it increases to greater splendor?

I just... don't know.
But I'm okay with not knowing.
Mysteries keeps me curious.
And that's a good thing.
It - among other things - keeps me believing.
For oh, how greatly I do desire to see the glory of God.

Ch. 266 - I Like Gardening...

Every time I come up with a new idea of what I could do with my life - which I always like to think may very well be what God wants me to do - I am hit with conviction after conviction to do something different. And it always goes back to the same thing.

Planting.
No, not planting flowers or vegetables in a garden.
Church-planting.

I've never really given a lot of thought to doing so until the past couple of months. It's a big part of missions. I mean, I do go back and forth between youth ministry and cross-cultural ministry pretty often... because I would want to start a youth organization out in Salt Lake. Which technically would be a type of mission, I suppose, and not just youth ministry in a church or whatever. But I know that if I were to definitely "do missions" I don't want to do something stereotypical like help out in AIDS orphanages or something. Honestly. I would want to do something like church-planting, I believe. A former student came to my Christian Discipleship class during Missions Emphasis Week and spoke to us about AVANT, a church-planting organization. What he talked about sparked my interest to a great extent. Man... thinking about it gives me the chills. I felt a pretty big tug on the heart while he was talking to us.

Anyway, maybe God's trying to tell me something, here. I really have to think about it. I've got time. I'll just have to wait and see how everything starts panning out.


' "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." '
[John 4:34-35]

Ch. 210 - Born of God

'Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.'
[John 1:12-13]

25. August 2010 Edit:

I am a child of God.
A beloved daughter.

I love my parents. A lot. And I know they love me. A lot. So it truly fascinates me to think of how greatly my Lord God loves me. Because I know that His love surpasses my parents' love to an entirely incomprehensible degree. I also think it is interesting that it is our right to become children of God. It is not a privilege, which can be taken away. It is not a reward that we must earn by doing something worthwhile or good. God loves us that much. I have nothing else to say. I am simply that awestruck.

Ch. 177 - Skool is Kool

I'm going to go past the fact that God is the greatest Teacher, because that's obvious to me. I know that. And I love learning in the world that is His classroom. But it's really neat to see Him at work in classrooms here at school. I've never experienced this kind of learning environment before, so it's like I'm learning twice as much at one time, if that makes sense. Either way, I wouldn't trade what's happening here in general or within me for anything in the world right now.


' "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.'
[John 13:13]

Ch. 150 - Full Speed Ahead

'Into marvelous light I'm running,
out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross You are the truth,
You are the life, You are the way.

My dead heart now is beating,
my deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs,
now I'm free, now I'm free.

Lift my hands and spin around,
See the light that I have found.
Oh the marvelous light,
the marvelous light.'
[Marvelous Light]

This is, quite possibly, one of my favorite songs ever. It really speaks to me and I am able to connect to it because I believe a lot of it perfectly describes how I've come to know Christ and what has happened in my life since I've truly accepted Him into my heart.

A couple weeks ago I had written a post about receiving something I had been waiting for [see Chs. 136 and 137]. That 'something' was forgiveness. I know, I know: 'How can you be waiting for forgiveness? God forgives everything once you ask for it and expect that it will be given to you.' I don't know how to describe my thought process behind it, though. Just trust me when I say that I know when God has truly forgiven me for something. It's one of those 'things', you know? A feeling. A thought. A sense of humility like no other.

Anyway, while I was waiting for said forgiveness, I couldn't help but notice that I didn't feel quite right. I didn't feel alive in Christ... a terrible feeling. So the verse I have posted above ('my dead heart now is beating...') really represents that struggle I felt in my heart to connect with God and focus on Him while waiting for His forgiveness - and then the turnaround with His breath filling up my lungs, setting me free in His love, mercy and grace. I don't think the verse can only be about accepting Christ into your heart and being free in Him, which is a great thing. It is able to speak to all people and meet them where they are in life and in their walks with God. Beautiful.

I also appreciate the first part of the song that I posted ('by the cross you are the truth...').

' "Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." '
[John 14:6]

I have been on the other side of the fence and thus can tell you, with firsthand experience, that it couldn't be more true. If you think there's any way around it, you are wrong. That's a pretty opinionated and bold statement, but I agree with what Jesus said so strongly that there's no way I'd say or believe otherwise.

So yes, I am running into marvelous light... and I'm not slowing down anytime soon.


' "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." '
[Matthew 7:13-14]

Ch. 147 - Jesus Has Your Back

This was today's devotional. It was really encouraging for me and I wanted to share it.

Jesus Prays for You

' "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message..." '
[John 17:20]

During the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for himself and then he prayed for the disciples. And then, with the hour of his death approaching, he took time to pray for you. He prayed for all those who would believe through the ministry of the disciples, and that means you.

This is what he told God:

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world."
[John 17:20-24]

Jesus prays for you still.
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
[Hebrews 7:25]

Jesus wants you with him.
"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory..."
[John 17:24]

Ch. 100 - Woman at the Well

I really didn't want to put up a video link two days in a row, so I figured I'd simply write out the video instead. I found this video poem on Godtube.com a few months ago and I fell in love with it. I thought about it today for some reason and watched it; the video is simply made, but the recitation is powerful and meaningful. If you'd like to check it out for yourself, go to http://www.godtube.com/ and in the search bar type "Woman at the Well".

Woman at the Well

I am a woman of no distinction, of little importance.
I am a woman of no reputation - save that which is bad.

You whisper as I pass by and cast judgmental glances,
though you don’t really take the time to look at me
or even get to know me, for

to be known is to be loved and to be loved is to be known.

And otherwise what’s the point of doing either one of them in the first place?

I want to be known.
I want someone to look at my face and not just see two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and two ears,
but to see all that I am and could be -
all my hopes, loves and fears.

That’s too much to hope for, to wish for or pray for.
So I don’t, not anymore.
Now I keep to myself and by that I mean the pain,
pain that keeps me in my own, private jail -
the pain that’s brought me here at midday to this well.

To ask for a drink is no big request, but to ask it of me?
A woman unclean,
ashamed,
used and abused,
an outcast,
a failure,
a disappointment,
a sinner?

No drink passing from these hands to your lips could ever be refreshing, only condemning,
as I’m sure you condemn me now,
but you don’t.

You’re a man of no distinction though of the utmost importance.
A man with little reputation, at least so far.
You whisper and tell me to my face what all those glances have been about,
and you take the time to really look at me
but don’t need to get to know me.

For to be known is to be loved and to be loved is to be known.

And you know me, you actually know me.
All of me and everything about me.
Every thought inside and hair on top of my head.
Every hurt stored up, every hope, every dread.
From my past and my future, all I am and could be.
You tell me everything, you tell me about me.

And that which is spoken by another would bring hate and condemnation,
coming from you brings love, grace, mercy, hope, and salvation.

I’ve heard of one to come who would save a wretch like me,
And here in my presence you say, “I am He.”

To be known is to be loved and to be loved is to be known.

And I just met you but I love you.
I don’t know you but I want to get to.

Let me run back to town, this is way too much for just me.
There are others -
brothers,
sisters,
lovers,
haters,
the good and the bad,
sinners and saints -

who should hear what you’ve told me,
who should see what you’ve shown me,
who should taste what you gave me,
who should feel how you forgave me.

For to be known is to be loved and to be loved is to be known.

And they all need this too,
we all do
need it for our own.


'When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." '
[John 4:7-14]

Ch. 81 - A Simple Reminder

JESUS
JESUS
JESUS
JESUS
JESUS
JESUS
JESUS
JESUS

He is everything.
I am nothing without Him.


'Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." '
[John 14:6-7]

Ch. 29 - All You Need

' "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." '
[John 13:34-35]

3. May 2010 Edit:

Jesus loved us so greatly.
The Man gave up His life for us.
Willingly.

So when He tells us to love one another as He loved us, that may seem like a command that we cannot fully obey. But are there people you would be willing to die for? No questions asked, no strings attached for that person... you simply love them for who they are, and desire the absolute best for them. You are honestly and wholeheartedly willing to do anything for them.
Encourage.
Teach.
Listen.
Lead and guide.
Comfort.
Serve.
Indeed, die.

Ch. 28 - Following Him

As much as I want to take the lead again and do things my way, I can't. I won't. I finally realized a while ago that I have to follow God. And I want to follow God. Sometimes, though, I find myself pulling at the bit some, trying to hint that I want to go one way - but I usually find myself corrected and continue walking on the path I'm already on. The path God has chosen and put before me.

It's a lovely path, really, and I enjoy walking it. It's I've met wonderful people alongside the path, had some adventures (some while straying off the path, I must admit - you know, while taking those 'shortcuts'), seen a lot of God's beauty, and drawn closer to God each step of the way. What more could I ask for?

Following God makes life easy. It makes things simple. And trust me when I say I like my life simple. I also like the simple things in life. And it seems to me that now that I'm following God all the more, I see more of those simple things and am able to revel in the beauty of them all.

Perfect.


'When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." '
[John 8:12]

Ch. 2 - Seul Choix; 24. 12. 07

Seul choix. Only choice.

This was the phrase peppered throughout Pastor Harlan's Christmas Eve sermon. Jesus is our only choice - that's the bottom line, whether we like it or not. God gave us His only Son as our only choice.

What a sublime thought.

For the longest time I liked to pretend that I had options. You know, 'explore' a bit. Sure, I had been semi-raised in the [Methodist] church, but as I grew older I did some... research... on other religions. Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, the Ba'hai faith... the list went on and on. I don't think my parents ever knew. I did so when my family was on a church hiatus; when I was eight my mom's mother died and we stopped going to church until the middle of eighth grade, after we had moved to Iowa. The time when I looked into religions other than Christianity was in the later years of that hiatus. Some religions sounded pretty neat. I never expressed any interest(s) to my parents, though. My 'switching religions' - even though I had never remotely come close to doing so - didn't seem feasible. I'm glad that wasn't God's plan for me. He chose me long before I chose Him and accepted His son as my Savior.

We are so lucky to have salvation through that seul choix. We are undeserving. Thankfully, we have God's love as the baseline for... everything. His love is the foundation of all that was, is, and is to come. Then again, that's what it's all about, right?


'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.'
[John 3:16]

Beautiful.