Old Writing: Eyes on HIm

Eyes on Him
“Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” Hebrews 12:1-2

This morning I went for a run outside of Port. It had been awhile; a long while. My legs were out of shape, my body not fully prepared, but my heart and mind ready for the task that lie ahead. I knew the goal. Coronado; a 15 minute jog from the school. Not an unreasonable goalm but for one who is out of shape; like myself, an undertaking. On certain days when the sky is clear, the tip of the cathedral in Coronado is able to be seen. On those days, I make the greatest progress. It’s a compelling goal, with my eyes set on the prize. Some days though, like today, something is corrupting my view. One time it will be rain or clouds, other times, like today, it was the sun. During these days the run is arduous. My eyes are focused downward to avoid the sun and I watch the sun so that I won’t fall. The goal is forgotten. Even my thoughts are against me. Inwardly, my mind after just a few minutes, is debating whether my body is up for the task.
As long as we can see our goal in sight, there is no run we can’t achieve. But take away the vision, block the cathedral and the result is as discouraging as the journey. Why continue if there is no relief in sight. We are what we see and if we only see ourselves, we are screwed. Luckily, humans were never meant to be kept from seein the goal. God has every intention to being the clearly seen cathedral in Coronado. He came near to us purposely to be seen. That is why the journey is so different when we have the clear view. Those who see him are never the same. His glory, his majesty, his beauty, gives us the strength to never stop until we reach him. Seeing Jesus is what Christianity is all about and this is why those who see him today are never the same. Its not possible to give up.

Old Writing: Ray of hope

La Cumbre-my ray of warmth
“The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words, yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run its course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other, nothing is deprived of its warmth.” Psalm 19:1-6

As I sit here reflecting on life, God, and how tired I am in the upper room of the hotel at la cumber, I feel cold. But there is hope, the moon has gone and the sun, though unseen, is lighting the skies. I sit here saying God what is it you want to say to me and teach me. Show me. When nothing significant comes to mind, I begin to bundle up with my blanket and drift off, feeling somewhat desolate and unsatisfied. Just as my mind begins to blur, I feel a sensation small at first, then gradually progressing into full on warmth and light. My life gets cold sometimes, whether I feel alone, whether I am just not growing, or im living in sin. I just sit with a blanket or nothing at all sulking in despair, wishing for something to just warm my nose. Then, after desiring and waiting, that ray comes and how glorious it feels. How perfect, how important, how joyful it is. Even after hard times in my life, God is that ray of hope. He is going to be there, he is just preparing me. That sounds strange but I believe hard times come for our sake. God wants us to realize how amazing his warmth and his light are. He wants us to rejoice when we see the sun peek out from above the mountains. The question is though, where am I? Am I in a room of windows eagerly searching, and patiently waiting for the light to come? Or am I hiding in a closed room feeling sorry for the situation I’m facing. God is there, he is faithful, just as the sun faithfully makes its way across the sky each morning. Are you prepared for what God is saying to you. Are you listening, and watching, and waiting? No worries, he is there. “Nothing is deprived of his warmth"

Old Writing: Voice of God

So, a few things have randomly lined up interestingly in my Bible reading.
1. I am reading the Psalms
2. I am reviewing the Semp manual
3. I just took a class on 1 Kings

I started reading through the Semp manual, and as a part of revising it, I am also doing it myself. The theme this summer is wired for sound. Last night as I was reading through the first day, we studied the passage of Isaiah 55. I had never really read through it and its focus was on listening to God. Are you hearing what God is saying to you. It then makes you take a more indepth look at verses 1 to 3 in which i found this part
0"Come, all you who are thristy, come to the waters"
I immediately remembered Psalm 23 which i had read just a few days before which says something similar
in vs 2
"He leads me besides quiet waters and restores my soul"

THEN i remembered also the story of Elijah and his experience in listening to the voice of GOd. He was out on the mountain waiting for the Lord to pass by and he witnessed a great and powerful wind, an earthquake, and finally a fire, but the Lord wasnt in any of those. Then it says in 1Kings 19
"an after the fire came a gentle whisper" this is where the Lord was.

As I meditated upon those veres I realzied their common traits. Quiet waters, gentle whispers, water. They are all places of solitute, silence, openness. So often we find ourselves lost in the busyness of life, complaining that we haven´t heard God´s voice speak to us. God is there...he´s talking... but we can´t hear him over the noise of life. It is in the quiet we hear the Lord.

Well, then today i read this in Psalm 29
"The voice of the Lord is over the waters. The God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. THe voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedarsñ the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon...The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning, the voice of the Lord shakes the desert, The Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks, and strips the forest bare"

So this got me confused, really confused. I thought the Lord was in the quiet the lord was the whisper in the wind. But here it describes the strength the fire, earthquake, and powerful wind had, yet God wasnt in. Im still a bit confused about this whole idea, but this is my take on it currently..

I think God draws us to the waters to show us his thundering voice. His voice is majestic and powerful and oh so important, but we dont take the time to seek it to draw close to him because when we do, we will see what David did. That the voice of the Lord is HUGE. Its sad to think that even through flashes of lightning and shaking deserts, that we can still miss and be distracted from the voice of God. Our focus is so off. We spend our time worrying, or planning, or talking, when if we just would listen, he would guide us.

My challenge to you this week, if your readin this, is to take a half an hour to yourself and let the lord lead you beside quiet waters to restore your soul. Let him show you his majestic and powerful voice. Open your heart to what he has to say. Come, listen and live

Isaiah 55-3
"Give ear and come to me, listen that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David"

I....

(idea taken from Kailin Bennett)

I am: a woman, passionate, a leader, passive, an introvert, people-lover, God-fearing, a friend, a sister, a daughter
I think: about the future, about God, about the past
I know: that I want to serve God all my life, that without him I am lost, that I'm still learning
I have: family, friends, a home, a great school, a wonderful job, and an incredible God
I wish: Christ in all his glory would come: no more tears, no more pain, no more hunger, no more sickness

I hate: the cold, feeling guilty, being rejected
I miss: family, comfort, climbing trees, summer, Costa Rica
I feel: burdened, shameful
I crave: summer nights, sleep, love, grace, intimacy
I wonder: what my life will be like, what legacy i will leave, who I will marry (if)
I pray: for a contrite heart, that I would fear the Lord, for my friends, through Eph. 3:16-19, for revival, aloud
I regret: caring what people think, being gluttonous
I love: a hot cup of coffee, the Bible, and a warm summer sunrise (all combined), stars, friends, popcorn, rest

I always: overanalyze, make my bed
I care: about my family, about Christ, for the not-yet believers, and people
I am not: an extravert, shy,
I believe: in Christ alone
I dance: in my car, in my bedroom, while im running,
I sing: by myself, in chapel
I laugh: for real just sometimes, i wish i laughed more
I cry: at almost all movies, in worship and prayer,
I don’t always: think before speaking, prioritize my time well, speak humbly
I write: letters,thoughts, journals, notes
I lose: everything
I never: quite understand, make fast decisions, have enough time
I listen: to rascal flatts, to authority, to friends, to Christ
I can usually be found: at Joes, or in Stacy and Justines room
I am scared: that I'm not enough
I need: Jesus
I can’t wait: for Him to take my hand and walk me through the pearly gates