FROM: Banbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
ABOUT ME: Living the highs and lows of life in the adventurous pursuit of God Himself and of who I'm meant to be as the Bride of Christ.
(View complete profile)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008,8:45 p.m.
JOYOUS STRENGTH
I found a bit of fresh revelation in Nehemiah 8:10 this week.
This is the verse that talks about the joy of the Lord being our strength. I've read this passage countless times. I've had other moments of revelation in it. But this week, as I was both recognizing and lamenting my own wayward, sinful heart, I found new meaning in the words.
The people were weeping at the recitation of the Law of God - long since lost to them as a nation in captivity. I have read this passage before and felt what the weight of the words being read must have been - a heart of repentance in the knowledge of laws broken, a heart of sorrow in the knowledge of the futility of attempting to keep all the laws and bring pleasure to God - all of these would have made me weep also. The people were told not to mourn or weep, since that was a day sacred to the Lord. They were told instead to celebrate and that the joy of the Lord was their strength.
I think I've always focused on the people being told not to mourn or weep, even as they repented. This week I was struck by the fact that a heart of repentance is exactly what the Lord was seeking. Just like the prodigal son, the heart that takes a small step back towards the Father is the heart that does bring pleasure to God, and the heart that He runs to envelop in love and forgiveness. That heart - God's heart - is a heart full of joy. God's heart is full of joy at seeing His sons and daughters take a step back towards Him and have such a deep desire to be in relationship with Him that they weep and mourn for their own brokenness and their sinful natures.
But the fact that the Lord is joyous is strength for us. Strength to know that we will not be destroyed in our wickedness and ignorance. Strength to know that God is not angry - the heart of true repentance melts His anger and opens the door to restoration. The Lord's joy is strength for us to know that He is for us, and not against us.
It can certainly bring us strength.
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve." Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. (Nehemiah 8:5-12)
This is the verse that talks about the joy of the Lord being our strength. I've read this passage countless times. I've had other moments of revelation in it. But this week, as I was both recognizing and lamenting my own wayward, sinful heart, I found new meaning in the words.
The people were weeping at the recitation of the Law of God - long since lost to them as a nation in captivity. I have read this passage before and felt what the weight of the words being read must have been - a heart of repentance in the knowledge of laws broken, a heart of sorrow in the knowledge of the futility of attempting to keep all the laws and bring pleasure to God - all of these would have made me weep also. The people were told not to mourn or weep, since that was a day sacred to the Lord. They were told instead to celebrate and that the joy of the Lord was their strength.
I think I've always focused on the people being told not to mourn or weep, even as they repented. This week I was struck by the fact that a heart of repentance is exactly what the Lord was seeking. Just like the prodigal son, the heart that takes a small step back towards the Father is the heart that does bring pleasure to God, and the heart that He runs to envelop in love and forgiveness. That heart - God's heart - is a heart full of joy. God's heart is full of joy at seeing His sons and daughters take a step back towards Him and have such a deep desire to be in relationship with Him that they weep and mourn for their own brokenness and their sinful natures.
But the fact that the Lord is joyous is strength for us. Strength to know that we will not be destroyed in our wickedness and ignorance. Strength to know that God is not angry - the heart of true repentance melts His anger and opens the door to restoration. The Lord's joy is strength for us to know that He is for us, and not against us.
The joy of the Lord is our strength. Our God loves the heart of repentance. It bring Him joy, even when we feel the sorrow of our sin. The knowledge of His joy can bring us joy.
It can certainly bring us strength.
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve." Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. (Nehemiah 8:5-12)
Sunday, June 15, 2008,9:03 a.m.
ELIANA (AKA CUTEST NIECE IN THE WORLD)
Saw this picture on my Dad's Palm last night - couldn't resist posting it.
The babies are well - Zach of course is home and Zoey has been moved from the NICU at Children's Hospital to Royal Colombian Hospital in New Westminster, since she no longer needs the same intensity of care that she was receiving in the NICU over town. She'll return to Children's for her surgery when she's up to 3kg (about 6.5 lbs).
.jpg)
The babies are well - Zach of course is home and Zoey has been moved from the NICU at Children's Hospital to Royal Colombian Hospital in New Westminster, since she no longer needs the same intensity of care that she was receiving in the NICU over town. She'll return to Children's for her surgery when she's up to 3kg (about 6.5 lbs).
.jpg)
Monday, June 09, 2008,5:04 p.m.
SILENCE IN THE FACE OF NO EQUALITY
I've been continuing to read through the book of Job today (got stalled there for a couple of weeks, but I'm back in it). I ran across this verse:
"But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God." (Job 13:43)
I'm not sure that any of us would read that and not think that this is a rather foolish desire. Ironic, too, for Job has just spent a number of verses in chapter twelve declaring God's power and wisdom to choose to make anything happen. He also notes that when God does make these things happen, nothing can refute His decisions. Why then would Job desire to argue with God? Obviously because he knows that he is blameless and he wants to plead his case.
But surely the omnipotent power and might of the God who created man's own mouth to be able to argue (as God reminded Moses in Genesis 4:11 when he unwisely kept talking) should keep us silent when faced with something God has chosen, shouldn't it? Job does not refute that God has allowed this trouble into his life. He simply complains that it is unfair and wants a chance to tell God so. Job is treating God as an equal, and a very brief study shows that God has no equal on earth.
Nothing on earth is his equal - a creature without fear. (Job 41:33)
"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25)
"To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?" (Isaiah 46:5)
I am not mocking Job. In truth, I have done at least as much as he in my own life, and likely been far less blameless when desiring to plead my case before God. It isn't Job's desire that has struck me in reading this. It is God's lack of having an equal. I suppose that if I had been asked if God had an equal on earth, I would immediately have replied in the negative. But in hearing someone speak with words I have too many times at least felt if not spoken, I was convicted of my own vast error in judgment.
There is only one person who ever walked this earth who was God's equal - Jesus. And interestingly and beautifully, the only thing He did with His equality was to choose not to use it. For our sake. Out of deep love. Somehow words run out when I move from thinking about God's lack of equal on earth to the One who was equal, and His choice of servanthood.
I no longer desire to argue my case - I simply desire to be silent.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8)
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
Be still, and know that I am God.... (Psalm 46:10)
"But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God." (Job 13:43)
I'm not sure that any of us would read that and not think that this is a rather foolish desire. Ironic, too, for Job has just spent a number of verses in chapter twelve declaring God's power and wisdom to choose to make anything happen. He also notes that when God does make these things happen, nothing can refute His decisions. Why then would Job desire to argue with God? Obviously because he knows that he is blameless and he wants to plead his case.
But surely the omnipotent power and might of the God who created man's own mouth to be able to argue (as God reminded Moses in Genesis 4:11 when he unwisely kept talking) should keep us silent when faced with something God has chosen, shouldn't it? Job does not refute that God has allowed this trouble into his life. He simply complains that it is unfair and wants a chance to tell God so. Job is treating God as an equal, and a very brief study shows that God has no equal on earth.
Nothing on earth is his equal - a creature without fear. (Job 41:33)
"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25)
"To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?" (Isaiah 46:5)
I am not mocking Job. In truth, I have done at least as much as he in my own life, and likely been far less blameless when desiring to plead my case before God. It isn't Job's desire that has struck me in reading this. It is God's lack of having an equal. I suppose that if I had been asked if God had an equal on earth, I would immediately have replied in the negative. But in hearing someone speak with words I have too many times at least felt if not spoken, I was convicted of my own vast error in judgment.
There is only one person who ever walked this earth who was God's equal - Jesus. And interestingly and beautifully, the only thing He did with His equality was to choose not to use it. For our sake. Out of deep love. Somehow words run out when I move from thinking about God's lack of equal on earth to the One who was equal, and His choice of servanthood.
I no longer desire to argue my case - I simply desire to be silent.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8)
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
Be still, and know that I am God.... (Psalm 46:10)
Monday, June 02, 2008,7:56 p.m.
HOW HE LOVES US (KIM WALKER)
I can't get past this. I don't want to....
(If anything happens you can't watch this video properly, as I'm hearing some can't, click this link: Kim Walker video.)
(If anything happens you can't watch this video properly, as I'm hearing some can't, click this link: Kim Walker video.)