But much of my devotion, enjoyment, pleasure are towards things, entertainment, myself, people... apart from the Lord. Yet, God says to delight in Him, do all things for His glory, proclaim the good news, and love Him. He wants a totally devoted life.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Total Devotion
Total Devotion was the name of my youth fellowship back during high school, but we always just called it TD. I had forgotten that it stood for "total devotion". I'm thankful for that reminder that life isn't about "kinda devotion", "sometimes devotion", but "total devotion". But I know that as long as I am still on earth, I won't be. This makes me long for heaven. How wonderful would it be to be totally devoted to my God - all my affections, cares, service, worship, my entire being
Thursday, July 14, 2011
pray and wait
Someone showed me this quote. I think this goes along with prayer, that we pray and wait expectantly. The waiting for an answer is just as important as how the Lord answers. How do you wait on the Lord? Such as a missionary preparing himself for the mission field and if he dies soon after like Jim Elliot, was it a waste? The process of it was still what God desired. More and more difficulties are welcomed because God will shape us in ways we never thought would happen, and somehow our prayers are answered.
"But waiting on God isn't like this at all. Waiting on God isn't about the suspension of meaning and purpose. It's part of the meaning and purpose that God has brought into my life. Waiting on God isn't to be viewed as an obstruction in the way of the plan. Waiting is an essential part of the plan. For the child of God, waiting isn't simply about what I'll receive at the end of my wait. No, waiting is much more purposeful, efficient, and practical than that. Waiting is fundamentally about what I'll become as I wait. God is using the wait to do in and through me exactly what he's promised. Through the wait he's changing me. By means of the wait he's altering the fabric of my thoughts and desires. Through the wait he's causing me to see and experience new things about him and his kingdom. And all of this sharpens me, enabling me to be a more useful tool in his redemptive hands." -Paul Tripp
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
heart of a praying life
"Learned desperation is at the heart of a praying life."
- Paul Miller, A Praying Life
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Lord has brought me thus far, and though my life seems quite ordinary, I believe one thing God has shaped me more through these past years is how to think. As we learned in ET2 (apologetics), we are to love the Lord not just with all our hearts, but also with all of our mind.
I am so glad that through struggles, He has given me a mind to understand His ways and softened my heart. People come and go in our lives, we go in and out of people's lives. I very much disliked that at first. Sometimes I still whine about that. We seek to love and be loved. Yet through this the Lord has revealed more of His faithfulness. Although people do come and go, God remains. We still are able to love and be loved, but this is from God and not from people. God uses different people at different times to reveal Himself. Who is greater?
I am so glad that through struggles, He has given me a mind to understand His ways and softened my heart. People come and go in our lives, we go in and out of people's lives. I very much disliked that at first. Sometimes I still whine about that. We seek to love and be loved. Yet through this the Lord has revealed more of His faithfulness. Although people do come and go, God remains. We still are able to love and be loved, but this is from God and not from people. God uses different people at different times to reveal Himself. Who is greater?
Sunday, May 8, 2011
i'll never forsake you
These simple lyrics, someone says, "'packages' so well promises that the Lord has for us in His Word".
O soul, are you weary from wave upon wave
Of grief and affliction whom no man can save?
Has sickness surrounded, or unending night?
Uncertainty stolen your joy and your might?
O doubting, o fearful– remember His care,
The helpless and hopeless need never despair
For from your afflictions His glory shall spring–
The deeper your sorrow, the louder you’ll sing!
Remember your Father– His promise, His love:
Chorus:
“I’ll never forsake you, this pain will not break you,
For I will remake you for unending joy;
My promise is faithful though now it is painful;
No power can trample my covenant love.”
Remember your Savior– His grief and His pain,
The lonely affliction, unmerited shame.
Though you had betrayed Him, He died in your place;
The joy set before Him He offers by grace.
Remember your Father– His promise, His love:
by David Ward
http://www.reformedpraise.org/songs/modernhymns/ill-never-forsake-you/
O soul, are you weary from wave upon wave
Of grief and affliction whom no man can save?
Has sickness surrounded, or unending night?
Uncertainty stolen your joy and your might?
O doubting, o fearful– remember His care,
The helpless and hopeless need never despair
For from your afflictions His glory shall spring–
The deeper your sorrow, the louder you’ll sing!
Remember your Father– His promise, His love:
Chorus:
“I’ll never forsake you, this pain will not break you,
For I will remake you for unending joy;
My promise is faithful though now it is painful;
No power can trample my covenant love.”
Remember your Savior– His grief and His pain,
The lonely affliction, unmerited shame.
Though you had betrayed Him, He died in your place;
The joy set before Him He offers by grace.
Remember your Father– His promise, His love:
by David Ward
http://www.reformedpraise.org/songs/modernhymns/ill-never-forsake-you/
Thursday, May 5, 2011
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