1.) My God is amazing. I'm thankful He is strong where I'm weak.
2.) I've never ridden a horse. I think I need to change that soon.
3.) I bought the cd "Pickin' on Reliant K". It's amazing! I love bluegrass as it is, but when they sing "Be My Escape", "Sadie Hawkins Dance", or "Who I am Hates Who I've Been", I just smile. You would too.
4.) Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) and Jon Foreman (Switchfoot) started a group called Fiction Family. I got their first cd, and it is interesting. I like acoustic music as it is, but it did have a few strange musical quirks. So on a scale from 1-10...I'd say it's a 6.
5.) This weekend was totally amazing and amazingly difficult. To search for God's will is almost a paradox. How can I "find" God's will when the idea of God's will/wisdom is unsearchable? I found Ephesians full of references to His will, and most of them point to doing good works. After thinking and reading further...I found four verses that I can rest on...
Ephesians 5, 15-17
"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."
Got that part...I need to understand what the Lord's will is.
-Ephesians 1: 5-12
"He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us. For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him, according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will, we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory."
I like how this says "He has made know to us...ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE"! HIS PURPOSE! He does not reveal ALL His will to us whenever we want! I was somehow looking to find the All-encompassing "Dummies Guide to God's will" written by God, but I couldn't find it. Finding God's will is not a quick, menial task that is started, worked on, and closed it a hour, day, or year. It is a lifelong process...hourly yearning, daily searching, and yearly working to know our God and find his will.
-Romans 12:1-21
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
"Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will" Transform and renew my mind? What do these terms mean? Again, these seem to be tied to actions.."do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world". This again refers to daily searching after God, reading His word, seeking Him. I know it is sometimes tedious to search after someone we can not see, so I decided to put this in a physical perspective. How can we expect to "fall in Love" with someone when we don't communicate, talk to, listen to, or think about? How can I expect a relationship to grow when I'm not willing to spend my time to find out what makes the other person laugh, cry, smile, frown, etc.? If we would spend our time and money, travel across the country, give up sleep, etc. to pursue a human relationship, what should we do to pursue God?
Psalms 119:105
"Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path."
As I search after God, He is faithful to show Himself to me. He lights my path daily and shows me exactly where I need to go...exactly when I need to know.
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