"A friend comes at a moment when you look at the other and say, "You too? I thought I was the only one!"--very rough translation from one of my favorite spiritual titans C.S. Lewis
The Aha! Effect. God is so wonderfully humorous in His soverign ways. The very times in my life I've been looking, seeking, asking and praying for things is generally not the specific time He answers. Not because He doesn't care, or is withholding any good thing from me--it's more or less about His perfect and infallable timing. He knows what is best and He knows every season of my life because, after all He is the author of my life. Thinking about my life as a book and God as the Author, I wonder what title He would give my book. Maybe Song of the Redeemed or something along the lines of that. Regardless, indeed He is writing my story and what a good read is has been and still continues to be. It's a page-turner, full of twists and turns, and every human emotion available. He hits on points of all interest. I can't help but want to skip ahead or flip to the end and read the last page. How will it end? What will I be? I know that I will be the woman He has created to be and that's good enough for me. I don't need to know everything right now-----but I really want to. My whole point to this stream of consciouness is to say that whenever i recognize the hand of God in my life, when it is so brilliantly orchestrated, I have the "Aha!" moment. It's a gentle reminder from God that He is always with me, taking care of me, meeting all of my needs and doing immeasurably more than I am capable of imagining or trying to fathom. But when this happens I say thank you My King. You are worthy of praise! I'm thankful and grateful for every intricute detail, even down to what I get to eat for dinner. My God is good. My story is amazing and I love Him more and more everyday. I can't wait to go back over the current chapter in my life and insert quotes and titles alongside My Jesus. To God alone be the glory!
Kristen
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Father's Day
So it's Father's Day and of course I am thinking about my father, but more so I am thinking about my Heavenly Father. I have a maker. I have a creator. I have been spoken for, sought after, fought for, longed for and redeemed by the Creator of the Universe: My Father, My God.
Yahweh--The Lord of Lords--The Great I Am--The Beginning and The End--My Dad. I am completley known and perfectly loved! I am a Child of God---A Daughter of the King! That is who I am! When He set dimensions for the earth with The Holy Spirit and made boundaries for water and foundations for the land---it was good. I picture God The Father, Jesus The Son and The Holy Spirit having a conversation as they admired their creation: "Well, we really do good work. But something is missing. What more can we create for our Glory? We will create man, all for love, all for our Glory. Whom shall we call "child"? And then they did it. They knew us and loved us before the creation of the world. Amazing! Before we were born God loved us and ransomed our hearts to Himself---all for His glory. You know someone asked me not too long ago what I thought God was most passionate about. I thought about it for a moment and said this: " Well, just looking at what He has done--the story we know---His story of Redemption, His work of salvation to redeem broken, sinful and hopeless people for His kingdom---my first answer would be, "God is most passionate about His children." But taking it further, why did He do what He did? I am reminded of Isaiah 43 where He demands "Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth, whom I formed and made, whom I created for my Glory. Therein lies the answer. God is most passionate about His glory. He did what He did all for love, but ultimately for His glory. Everything is for His glory." As I sit here, I can't help but wonder how I can most glorify God. Even if I don't know specifically what it looks like, I will honor my Father with my tongue, heart, mind, body and life. All of me. So today I say to my Heavenly Father, the God of the Universe who remembered me when He created all things and decided to give me life despite everything He knew I'd do and everything He knew I wouldn't---Thank You for not leaving me orphaned. Thank you for loving me a rebellious child. Thank you for picking me up---for telling me everything is going to be ok---and for the moments I didn't believe You, You held me in your arms and comforted me. Thank You My God My King. I love you. You are better than life! Thank You for Jesus, for The Holy Spirit--the Great Counselor, The Body, Your Word and your promises that have been made "Yes" in Christ. I am humbled by your love for me and relentless pursuit of this daughter's heart. Thank You for giving me brothers and sisters. Thank you for your unfailing love. Thank you for the still quiet voice You allow me to recognize. Thank you for revealing your glory in all of creation. I am grateful to be part of your vast, immeasurable, limitless, infallable plan. You are My King. You are My Father. Thank you and Happy Father's Day Abba Father!
Yahweh--The Lord of Lords--The Great I Am--The Beginning and The End--My Dad. I am completley known and perfectly loved! I am a Child of God---A Daughter of the King! That is who I am! When He set dimensions for the earth with The Holy Spirit and made boundaries for water and foundations for the land---it was good. I picture God The Father, Jesus The Son and The Holy Spirit having a conversation as they admired their creation: "Well, we really do good work. But something is missing. What more can we create for our Glory? We will create man, all for love, all for our Glory. Whom shall we call "child"? And then they did it. They knew us and loved us before the creation of the world. Amazing! Before we were born God loved us and ransomed our hearts to Himself---all for His glory. You know someone asked me not too long ago what I thought God was most passionate about. I thought about it for a moment and said this: " Well, just looking at what He has done--the story we know---His story of Redemption, His work of salvation to redeem broken, sinful and hopeless people for His kingdom---my first answer would be, "God is most passionate about His children." But taking it further, why did He do what He did? I am reminded of Isaiah 43 where He demands "Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth, whom I formed and made, whom I created for my Glory. Therein lies the answer. God is most passionate about His glory. He did what He did all for love, but ultimately for His glory. Everything is for His glory." As I sit here, I can't help but wonder how I can most glorify God. Even if I don't know specifically what it looks like, I will honor my Father with my tongue, heart, mind, body and life. All of me. So today I say to my Heavenly Father, the God of the Universe who remembered me when He created all things and decided to give me life despite everything He knew I'd do and everything He knew I wouldn't---Thank You for not leaving me orphaned. Thank you for loving me a rebellious child. Thank you for picking me up---for telling me everything is going to be ok---and for the moments I didn't believe You, You held me in your arms and comforted me. Thank You My God My King. I love you. You are better than life! Thank You for Jesus, for The Holy Spirit--the Great Counselor, The Body, Your Word and your promises that have been made "Yes" in Christ. I am humbled by your love for me and relentless pursuit of this daughter's heart. Thank You for giving me brothers and sisters. Thank you for your unfailing love. Thank you for the still quiet voice You allow me to recognize. Thank you for revealing your glory in all of creation. I am grateful to be part of your vast, immeasurable, limitless, infallable plan. You are My King. You are My Father. Thank you and Happy Father's Day Abba Father!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Thoughts On Glory
Thoughts on Glory
I long to know how deep, how wide, how long and how high...
I long to know the depth, breadth, and width; the length, and the height of Our Sovereign Lord’s Glory.
But the mere thought is soberingly profound—yet the truth of His existence and its reality is awe-inspiring.
His glory is one that is without measure. It is without boundary or limits of time and space. It does not rest satisfied in mere human thought or remembrance. It gnaws, it eats, it tears, and it destroys our human nature. For the idea in itself is more than beautiful. But the truth of its existence wages war within us, knowing all the while that indeed it is true.
We fight the truth and belittle it to a mere thought, idea, or notion. We dismiss it as random thunder of groans roaring up within us. We try as we might to ignore its roaring oration, but cannot, for He set eternity in our hearts.
As babies cry out for food never knowing of its existence, never formally being introduced, so men cry out for His Glory.
We try to capture the hidden moments revealed every so often, in paintings, photographs, books, poems and song. But to no avail, we are unable to describe Him in His infinite glory and splendor. Men are limited by pen, by words, brushstrokes, eyes, and our hearts. How can one with limits ever endeavor or ascribe to capture One without any?
It is impossible and that is the tragedy of being human. So long as we remain here on earth we will never fully understand, but we can know that it is true. And from that truth and acception of it, comes joy.
Our thoughts are not His thoughts and neither are our ways His ways. No! They are higher, lofty, and greater than all. They hold weight and power.
We seek to find something we forgot and find nothing.
We are compelled to capture unobtainable beauty but are thwarted.
Something in us does not allow it. It is our flesh—our humanity.
Humans can only obtain what is given.
Humans can only find what is revealed.
We try to understand but are left confused. Humans can only understand what can never be explained by humans, through divine revelation from God.
We know what He allows or lets us know and the truth that God set eternity in our hearts only fuels this great perplexion. Why? Why that? He could have put, love, joy peace, kindness—but eternity?
God Himself set eternity in our hearts so we would know that indeed there is more than what is seen. So that we would recognize that the longing within us wasn’t by accident, but held purpose: the purpose of bringing His children back to Him;redeeming a generation of orphens, widows, and fatherless for His Kingdom. The purpose of glory for Him.
Eternity is not an emotion, thought, or idea. It is forever, and we believe.
So why eternity? Because it is not something we automatically accept at first. We bat it away like a mosquito. We run from it as if it were a rabid dog. But it is real, and clearly He wanted us to remember. To remember something we’ve never met. Why? So we would recognize it when we see it and believe. Eternity is Him.
Longing for more is not a moment or expressive thought or a painting or a photograph or for that matter a book or poem: Longing for more is longing for Him. The ache we feel buried so deep is not a burden but a birthright. Only those who are His will recognize it as Him. We were created with the longing because the creator created us, for His glory, of which we long for. He left His fingerprints on our hearts and can never forget us: we are engraved on the palms of His hands.
It is not by mistake that nothing on earth can satisfy, for nothing temporal can answer the question of eternal or stand up to forever or hold the weight of no-end. All pursuits are counterfeit except those of God. He is gracious to reveal Himself, but His insurmountable glory, of that, we must wait until the day of Christ Jesus. On that day we will most assuredly enjoy the spoils of the longing and be more than able to put a face to it, that of our savior: Jesus, the One and Only.
I long to know how deep, how wide, how long and how high...
I long to know the depth, breadth, and width; the length, and the height of Our Sovereign Lord’s Glory.
But the mere thought is soberingly profound—yet the truth of His existence and its reality is awe-inspiring.
His glory is one that is without measure. It is without boundary or limits of time and space. It does not rest satisfied in mere human thought or remembrance. It gnaws, it eats, it tears, and it destroys our human nature. For the idea in itself is more than beautiful. But the truth of its existence wages war within us, knowing all the while that indeed it is true.
We fight the truth and belittle it to a mere thought, idea, or notion. We dismiss it as random thunder of groans roaring up within us. We try as we might to ignore its roaring oration, but cannot, for He set eternity in our hearts.
As babies cry out for food never knowing of its existence, never formally being introduced, so men cry out for His Glory.
We try to capture the hidden moments revealed every so often, in paintings, photographs, books, poems and song. But to no avail, we are unable to describe Him in His infinite glory and splendor. Men are limited by pen, by words, brushstrokes, eyes, and our hearts. How can one with limits ever endeavor or ascribe to capture One without any?
It is impossible and that is the tragedy of being human. So long as we remain here on earth we will never fully understand, but we can know that it is true. And from that truth and acception of it, comes joy.
Our thoughts are not His thoughts and neither are our ways His ways. No! They are higher, lofty, and greater than all. They hold weight and power.
We seek to find something we forgot and find nothing.
We are compelled to capture unobtainable beauty but are thwarted.
Something in us does not allow it. It is our flesh—our humanity.
Humans can only obtain what is given.
Humans can only find what is revealed.
We try to understand but are left confused. Humans can only understand what can never be explained by humans, through divine revelation from God.
We know what He allows or lets us know and the truth that God set eternity in our hearts only fuels this great perplexion. Why? Why that? He could have put, love, joy peace, kindness—but eternity?
God Himself set eternity in our hearts so we would know that indeed there is more than what is seen. So that we would recognize that the longing within us wasn’t by accident, but held purpose: the purpose of bringing His children back to Him;redeeming a generation of orphens, widows, and fatherless for His Kingdom. The purpose of glory for Him.
Eternity is not an emotion, thought, or idea. It is forever, and we believe.
So why eternity? Because it is not something we automatically accept at first. We bat it away like a mosquito. We run from it as if it were a rabid dog. But it is real, and clearly He wanted us to remember. To remember something we’ve never met. Why? So we would recognize it when we see it and believe. Eternity is Him.
Longing for more is not a moment or expressive thought or a painting or a photograph or for that matter a book or poem: Longing for more is longing for Him. The ache we feel buried so deep is not a burden but a birthright. Only those who are His will recognize it as Him. We were created with the longing because the creator created us, for His glory, of which we long for. He left His fingerprints on our hearts and can never forget us: we are engraved on the palms of His hands.
It is not by mistake that nothing on earth can satisfy, for nothing temporal can answer the question of eternal or stand up to forever or hold the weight of no-end. All pursuits are counterfeit except those of God. He is gracious to reveal Himself, but His insurmountable glory, of that, we must wait until the day of Christ Jesus. On that day we will most assuredly enjoy the spoils of the longing and be more than able to put a face to it, that of our savior: Jesus, the One and Only.
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