O Great God

O Great God
By Bob Kauflin

O great God of highest heaven

Occupy my lowly heart

Own it all and reign supreme

Conquer every rebel power

Let no vice or sin remain

That resists Your holy war

You have loved and purchased me

Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin

Had no ears to hear Your voice

Did not know Your love within

Had no taste for heaven’s joys

Then Your Spirit gave me life

Opened up Your Word to me

Through the gospel of Your Son

Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life

That’s dependent on Your grace

Keep my heart and guard my soul

From the evils that I face

You are worthy to be praised

With my every thought and deed

O great God of highest heaven

Glorify Your Name through me

Smack the Penguin?

While doing my daily list of blog reviews, I came across a post including the game "Smack the Penguin." Here it is, 8:06am Friday, and I am playing Smack the Penguin. I'm sure there's something better that I could be doing...but try your best. My highest score was 324.
http://n.ethz.ch/student/mkos/pinguin.swf

my wonderful hubby

I've been awfully tired this week, and it is apparent in my blogging as well as other areas of my life. The past few weeks have been a blur for Chris and I (no second glances there...) with lots of school activities packed into each evening. Though we haven't had much time to ourselves or with each other, I'm so content to know that he still loves me just as much as ever. I can see evidences of this everywhere, including the fact that he cleaned our whole house when he didn't have to teach on Monday! My husband is the best, and I hardly live up to how much he thinks of me. He's often considerate and gives a listening ear when I have had a difficult or tiring day, and works so diligently to pursue God and provide for us, often enduring hard trials. He also makes me laugh like crazy! I don't know where I'd be without him.
God is so kind to have given us the gift of marriage.

Ceuta, Spain

Just off the coast of Morocco...

Fellowship

“We should not neglect ordinary Christian fellowship as a valuable means of grace within the church. The early church ‘devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers’ (Acts 2:42). And the author of Hebrews reminds believers, ‘Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near’ (Heb 10:24-25). In the fellowship of believers, ordinary friendship and affection for one another will grow, and Jesus' injunction that we 'love one another' (John 15:12) will be fulfilled. Moreover, as believers care for one another, they will 'Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ' (Gal 6:2)." -Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology

These are refreshing words that I read lately, reminding me of how vital consitent fellowship really is. We weren't meant to live the Christian life alone; God gives us other believers as a means of His grace and kindness toward us, using them to speak words of wisdom, encouragement, correction, and heart-felt concern into our lives. By talking or meeting with other believers, we can share our burdens and pray for one another in whatever way we may need. Our Father who cares for us instructs us to care for others, and in doing so, we are cared for and receive His grace also. We need to walk together, helping each other over the boulders of sin and trials we may come across.

Who is that Christian brother or sister that you haven't talked to lately? Why don't you give him/her a call? God may use you to extend grace to that person in a time when it's most needed.

Catastrophic Christmas Tree

Be merciful; judge not.

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:36-38)

As I write this morning, I have been reminded of the many times I was quick to judge others this week.

Example #1

I was standing at the Sunoco gas station just up the street yesterday, needing to give my car a little fuel. I started the pump, shoved my hands in my pockets, and buried my nose in my coat due to the bitter cold. All of a sudden, I hear someone in the car parked behind me beep his horn a few times. Though I ignored it for the moment, I became irritated thinking, "Who is this idiot?" The driver gave a few more beeps, so I turned around with a sneer only to find that it was my loving husband, who happened to be just getting home from work. Oops.

Example #2

I hadn't heard from a friend for awhile, and although I know she is busy with work and a family, I created this image in my mind that she disliked me and no longer thought I was worthy to be her friend (a bit exxagerative, don't you think?). These thoughts left unchecked allowed me to become bitter toward my friend and judge how she was spending her time, forgetting that I wasn't keeping in touch with her EITHER. I should have been trying to get the log out of my own eye, before turning to look at the speck she may have had. (Matthew 7)

God commands us to be merciful, to not judge nor condemn others, to forgive, and to give freely. When we don't follow these clear instructions, we take our eyes off of God and rob ourselves of joy. Because I was quick to judge (and not to look at myself), I could have had a funny conversation with my husband at the gas station. God had appointed him to arrive there at the same time to make me smile, not to provoke me to anger. Because I was quick to judge my friend, I was compelled to feel bitter and angry, and move toward selfishness rather than show care and concern for my friend. I could have perhaps helped her, and in doing so received blessings that God had in store for me.

"Be merciful even as your Father is merciful." Really, we have no place to judge others. It doesn't matter if they have sinned against us repeatedly or committed serious wrongs affecting our lives; Jesus calls us to be merciful. He has shown us the utmost mercy, in that while we were still sinners, while we hated Him and anything to do with Him, He died for us. Can you believe that? Sometimes, it's hard to grasp, but He surely did. He has given us mercy by sparing us from everlasting wrath and punishment for every single thing we have done wrong if we trust in Him. This compels me to want to show mercy to others.

Hampton Beach, New Hampshire

A resolution

It seems that there is a theme running throughout the Bible of moving forward. Paul talks about it. The writer of Hebrews talks about it. Luke discusses it. It's written in the psalms. So it's important, right?

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained." Philippians 3:12-16

One of the things I've had a chance to think about over my vacation from school is the past year. People often do it around this time, when they start making New Year's resolutions that they probably won't keep after two months. One of my resolutions, which I will hopefully continue to strive for my whole life, is growing in holiness. The guys that I mentioned above all had the right idea; they didn't necessarily forget about the past and their sins, but concentrated on the future and the reward that lies ahead, the reward of Heaven and eternity with God. This is what I want my focus to be, knowing fully that I will continue to sin and fall short of what God requires of me. How thankful I am that I have a Savior who continues to change me and grow spiritual fruit in me, that I might become more like Him.

Think about one way that you want to grow spiritually. Ask God to work in you, moving you "forward" in the race that we will one day complete. Pray fervently that He will change you; God gives grace to the humble.

Home

Alas, the Christmas season is drawing to a close (save Three Kings' Day for you Spanish speakers). Chris and I are back in our cozy apartment in Pennsylvania after a lot of driving and fighting some snow throughout New England. All in all, I would say that we both had a wonderful time, but there is no place like home- to use a cliche. Home though, is pretty much wherever Chris and I have planted our feet together for the time. Who knows? Maybe we won't be calling this place home in awhile. We'll have to see what the New Year brings, and where our loving God leads us. Happy 2008!