Trust...

Speechless

Another song by Steven Curtis Chapman...

My words fall like drops of rain.
My lips are like clouds.
I've said so many things, trying to figure you out.
As mercy opens my eyes, my words are stolen away.
At this breathtaking view of your grace...

And I am Speechless
I'm astonished and amazed
I am silenced by your wondrous grace.
You have saved me
You have raised me from the grave.
And I am Speechless
In your presence now.
I'm astounded as I consider how
You have shown us the love that leaves us speechless.

So what kind of love can this be
That will trade heaven's throne for a cross?
To think that you still celebrate
For finding just one who was lost.
To know you rejoice over this
The God of this whole universe.
It's a story too great for words...

We are speechless
Oh how great is the love
The Father has lavished upon us,
That we should be called the sons and daughters of God

We are speechless
We stand in awe of your mercy
You have saved us
(from the grave)
We are speechless

Quotage

"Every experience that God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see." 

-Corrie Ten Boom 

"The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's 'own', or 'real' life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life - the life God is sending one day by day; what one calls one's 'real life' is a phantom of one's own imagination. This is at least what I see at moments of insight: but it's hard to remember it all the time." 

-C.S. Lewis 

Pondering the old year....moving on to a new

So a friend prompted me, via a note on Facebook, to write down some thoughts about this year that is quickly drawing to a close. As I like to call it - "muddling". (What I mean by this is that, while I would like to call it profound meditations, sometimes my thoughts come out somewhat muddled.) 

What events have occurred in my life during 2008, and what are some things God has taught me through them? 

* I became a sophomore, a second-year student at the college I so dearly love. A blessing in and of itself. Seeing as I entered my freshman year not knowing how long I could stay there, I thank God for giving me a third semester there and for allowing me to plan a third year. This college has changed me in more than one way. During my several months there, I have been challenged academically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. To be honest, I was a bit unsure about a non-denominational college. Not that I don't mingle with people of other religious backgrounds - not at all the case - but I was unsure as to how that would play out in classes and relationships. I have found it, however, to be very good. I have had opportunities to discuss, even with my Christian friends, our differences and similarities in belief. I have been challenged to discover why it is that I believe the way I do and to make sure that I am following the Word of God, and not men. 

* I have formed many new friendships, among freshmen, members of my own class, and upperclassmen. I have also better established older friendships. These people - mostly girls - have blessed me in ways beyond count! They have sought to know me for who I am; they have supported me through trials and rejoiced with me during happier times. They have put up with my moments of insanity and loved me in spite of them. Thank you so much! I love you all so much! (Ephesians 1:15ff) 

* I have become closer to my family, these people who have known me my whole life and never given up on me. You mean so much to me! Thank you for your love, your support, and everything you do for me - whether recognized or unseen. And ditto to all that I said in the previous paragraph. :) 

* I have learned in a better way how trustworthy and caring our God is. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'" (Lamentations 3:22-24) Even during times when I had no idea what God was doing in that situation, or what I was supposed to do, He brought me through and taught me to trust Him in spite of my fears and blindness. 

I'm sure there are so many more things I could add, but for now, this will have to do. I can always add more later on. 

So what about next year? Well, for starters...

* I have the amazing opportunity to study in Spain for three months. This would probably not be an option, were it not for the minor detail that I am a Spanish major and so am required to take a study-abroad semester. (Bummer, huh?) My feelings would tear me in multiple directions when the random-and-twisted paths of my mind take me to Segovia: 

- I have never liked goodbyes, even temporary ones, and saying goodbye to my friends at school was harder than I had anticipated. I will miss them while I am away, and I am saddened by the fact that their lives will continue on though I am absent. And I'm not yet done with goodbyes...there are still my family members and friends here. 

- I am nervous about living with complete strangers in a foreign country for three months. And about having to rely on a second language, in which I am conversational but not yet fluent by any means. 

- I am psyched about the opportunity to live abroad for a short time - in Europe!! - and experience another culture. 

.........................So, in all, I have very little to complain about. Actually, let me take that back. I have NOTHING that is worthy of complaint because everything that comes my way, whether I see it as "good" or "bad", comes from my heavenly Father, who knows better than anyone else what I need. And yet how often do I grumple and whine as one of the Israelites in the wilderness! If I stop to think about it, I am trying to tell God that I know better than He what I need and how I should live my life. 

Father, teach me to depend upon You for everything and to praise You in everything. 

A question of pleasure

I have made a great discovery today - and I owe it all to John Piper. I was reading the chapter on worship in his book Desiring God. Piper was renouncing the idea that we should not seek pleasure in our worship of God, the idea that if we find personal benefits in worship of the Divine, we dishonor God. He says, rather than this, God is more honored if we find abounding pleasure in worshipping Him. 

With these words, a memory came into my head of a time when I was visited a very close friend. Being the animal-lover that I am, I enjoyed spending some time with the family pets - two dogs and a cat. The cat, I was told, does not often "take to people" very quickly; however, she let me pet her a lot and even purred at this attention. My friend did not believe me when I told her that the purring indicated that the cat liked me. She said, "She only lets you pet her because it pleases her and she likes it." But now I see that this statement is wrong (to some degree, at the very least). No animal - especially a cat - would let someone come near her whom she did not trust or like. If she did not like me, she would not have found pleasure in me giving her attention! Her fear or dislike would cause her to run away. 

How much more true is this when related to worship of our Creator, Savior, and Lord! If we were brought into His sanctuary dragging our heels or with a mere sense of human duty, the act of worship does not glorify God. Rather, the mere fact that one can find great pleasure, even happiness, in singing songs of praise to Him or learning more of Him, or conversing with Him in prayer honors Him as One worth our worship. 

Lord, may we enjoy worshipping You more and more every day of our lives!