Top 10 Quotes...Back by popular demand!
So, I've learned a few things lately...I don't have to earn God's love. I don't have to work for it. It's already there. I don't have to be perfect. I knew this as far as academics go. But, I don't have to be perfect in order to be loved or to receive love. We are made in God's image. Well a defining characteristic of God is love. He desires it, and being made like Him, we desire it too. Maybe I am learning about grace, I'm not sure, but these two revelations I'm beginning to grasp.
11/1/03 Hey this is one of my favorite writings from my journal... Hebrews 11 v. 3 "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." This is talking about our faith that we have in God creating the universe. It's so easy to look around and questionhow God created the universe and doubt it. But then, there are times like when you're hiking in the middle of the mountains and question how could there not be a God who created it all? I just think it's all so vast and hard for us to grasp all at one time that we doubt it due to our cognitive limitations. Just reading Genesis Chapter 1 I'm thinking that this all sounds like too much of a perfect answer to why there is a moon, sun, land, water. It seems like someone is just trying to make up a story so it all fits, but it's times like when I'm canoeing on Lake Toxaway amidst the grandeur of the Blue Ridge mountains that I know it's real. It's life experiences that God uses to help build our faith as tall as mountains so that we may have His love that can move mountains. The animals such as birds and horses to me are pure examples, too, of God's work of art. My mind really questions if the Bible is real, but when I saw that hawk flying and circling the practice fields during lacrosse pratcie, I saw proof of God's existence. Oh but when I heard the hawk dry out I KNEW of God's presence.
Bein in the presence of horses settles my soul, God's work is His peace of work. To sea horse gallop, throw his head, and paw the ground and stand on his haunches, it's moments as such that I know God created something so wonderful, so beautiful. The mere chance of two planets colliding together and BANG! forming life is so unreal and it doesn't fit at majestic moments such as these.
The sun rises over the hills
And with its light, previews the morning mountains
That blanket this green earth.
Your eyes softly open as
The Son sheds light in your mourning heart,
That hides behind your soul.
The Songs of birds embrace
The meadow valleys
As riverbrooks gently whisper.
Morning has broken.
Hymns and wisdom embrace
Your angered heart
As the Spirit quietly leads you in to a path of peace
And mourning has broken.
Psalm 16 and what I got out of it...10/17/03
In comparision with Psalm 15, Psalm 16 is more of a prayer, "Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge." David is allowing God to take control. "It is for freedom he set us free." Gal 5:1 God set us free so we can choose what we want to do. David has chosen to let God handle it. We have the freedom to choose to let Him have control, but our benefits will be much greater, maybe not now, but later if we let Him have control. It's kind of like a five year old trying to clean and bandage a wound after she's fallen off of her bike. She's not very capabale, and she doesn't know exactly what to do but cry. So her dad comes along and says, "Can I help you?" and the little girl shakes her head yes. He cleans the wound and bandages it, but he also wipes the tears from the little girl's eyes. Make the connection of the dad as God, and picture yourself as the child. It doesn't stop here. God isn't just a God who heals. The father picks up the little girl and embraces her in his arms tightly, rocking gently from side to side. His massive arms wrap around her frail body as she rests her head on his broad shoulder. We're like the five year old. We can try to do things on our own, but we're mere mortals. We're GOING to screw up. God has such a better plan for us, if we would just let it go and let Him take care of us. I mean, He is almighty and powerful.
My Song (still in the process of being written/fine tuned)
Lord my heart is heavy.
Why don't you come and comfort me.
My head is gently resting
And the tears they slowly stream
But, "Take heart my child,"
You tell me,
"I will soon be coming, leaving my world above
To save you with my love."
Lord I want you to be near me.
Hold me close and by your side.
Watch me through the day and morning
And from you I will not hide.
So that's my song. It has a lot of work that needs to be done! :)
