tomorrow.

thinking about the future gets me really excited.

knowing that every moment, every event.. is not out of God's control.
His hands are holding the world together, still, as they always have.
His intentions have not changed, nor will they ever.


yet, it is so easy, and almost automatic,
for me to worry in spite of knowing those truths.
as if worrying will change something.
all it does is take away from today and limit tomorrow. and I know this.


I also tend to count my chickens before they hatch.
and they usually don't end up hatching at all. or they're not even chickens.

how much more could we make of today.

if every minute we thought about how tomorrow isn't ours.
no, but today is. and that's exciting.

"but as it is written: 'eye has not seen, nor ear heard, 

nor have entered into the heart of man the things which 

God has prepared for those who love Him.'"

-1 corinthians 2:9

{three this week} 10/22 - 10/29

happy monday, everyone! 

light, in and of itself, is just an amazing thing.

black & white from 9.20.11.

sequiota park in springfield, mo.

{new feature}

even though I've posted pictures in the past,

I thought I'd introduce a once-a-weekish feature to my blog.. 

3 pictures that best sum up my week. sounds good? alright.

here's to faithfully sharing a few moments that caught my eye.

there's a song in the air!

from a harvest party on the 20th, hosted by my adoptive family. isn't laughter the best thing ever?

autumn is just so wonderful. it's inspired me to do some writing, lately.

and there you have it!

it sets you free.

truth is relative. 

no, no it's not. is it?
it comes in different forms though.. wait, no it doesn't.
truth is truth. wait, what's truth in the first place?


do you ever have conversations like that in your head?
because that's one I had in mine today.
I have this thing about not talking when I don't know if I should..
well, not right now.



isn't truth what we're all looking for, whether or not we recognize/admit it?
some kind of black and white lines.
security that something in this ever-changing life won't change.
something that tells us that there's wrong and right,  
justice and a reason for injustice.



a quote from fellow human, Jon Foreman, says a lot:

the "truth" of loving those around me, the "truth" of seeking justice for the oppressed, the "truth" of a life of service -- these are truths to be possessed by: to be a slave in the service of the kingdom of the heavens, to be the servant of all. if the truths in this life have no owner then we are set free: free from the need to defend the truth, free to be possessed by this truth and simply live it out. truth becomes much too large for me to possess; truth is the beauty and authenticity which possesses me.

what I see from that is that truth is just too big for us.
the Truth Himself is the thing/person/spirit that possesses us. 
His thoughts are higher than ours.
His Word was given to us so that we could see this truth:
He is the black and white, He is justice, He is unchanging, and He is truth.


"then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 
'if you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  
and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'"

-John 8:31 & 32

extraordinary.

what comes to mind when you hear the word "mundane"?

 

I think of boredom, everyday, run-of-the-mill.


"I feel so mundane with everything,"
said a wonderful friend of mine a few days ago.
I agreed that I'm in the same place.



well, should you type that lovely little word into google, the first definition is this:

1. lacking interest or excitement; dull.

• "seeking a way out of his mundane, humdrum existence."

we've all been there before, right?
the day to day living, nothing extraordinary or life-changing. routine.


and then the second definition got the wheels in my head turning.

2. of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one.

• "the boundaries of the mundane world."

whoa.


I still don't know exactly what to think about that.

of all the wonders and beauty here on the planet, it's still mundane.
all the people and things and places, but it has boundaries.
such rich history and information and new technology, and it's mundane.

what does the Earth have to offer? why are we here?

here's a paragraph from John Piper's recent sermon,  
"Why Did God Create the World?"

"The Bible is crystal clear about this: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). If someone asks, “If earth is the only inhabited planet and man the only rational inhabitant among the stars, why such a large and empty universe?" The answer is: It’s not about us. It’s about God. And that's an understatement. God created us to know him and love him and show him. And then he gave us a hint of what he is like  — the universe."

if you think about that..
our mundane things on Earth are here to give God glory,
the very end of our existence.


and then, everything becomes not so.. ordinary.


"if then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, 
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  
set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  
for you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  
when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him 
in glory." 
-colossians 3:1-4.

sufficient.

grace is such a big topic lately amongst "church people", 

and for good reason.

 

nothing I could add to the discussion would be worth much, but let me say this:


you have no understanding or grasp of grace until it is all you have.


until it is the only thing keeping you afloat in an ocean of sin that threatens to swallow you whole, unapologetic in its tossing and crashing and sinking.


people mess up, they makes mistakes they regret.
we all have heard it before, yada yada yada.
but when the rubber meets the road..

mistakes ruin lives. they ruin families, marriages, relationships.
they are real and sin is real and there are consequences that are not pleasant or wanted.

you know what there's more of?

grace.

the kind that not only keeps you afloat, it's a kind that throws the life preserver into the waves when you've fallen off the boat, and pulls you back onto it.

it saves and it's undeserving and so deep.
what's the most amazing thing about grace?

its Giver.


"and He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, 
for  My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 
therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, 
that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 

2 corinthians verse 9.