Filed under: Random Posts
The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says ‘Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked — the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.’
‘You have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not push Me away, understand that I am going to see this job through. Whatever suffering it may cost you in your earthly life, whatever inconceivable purification it may cost you after death, whatever it costs Me, I will never rest, nor let you rest, until you are literally perfect — until my Father can say without reservation that He is well please with you, as He was well pleased with me. This I can do and will do. But I will not do anything less.’
— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Filed under: Random Posts
No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. . . . And grief still feels like fear. Perhaps more strictly, like suspense. Or like waiting; just hanging about waiting for something to happen. It gives life a permanently provisional feeling.
We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ‘Blessed are they that mourn,’ and I accept it. I’ve got nothing that I hadn’t bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination.
— C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed
Filed under: Random Posts
I miss him more than I can explain. I don’t want to, I just do.
It’s so difficult to put into words exactly what you think, what you feel, what you understand things to be when you hurt like this. It’s just hard—you love someone so much, you invest so much into them, you would do anything for them if they needed you. You’re so proud of how well they’ve done so far; you can’t believe how blessed you are to be able to pour into this person’s life.
Then, they’re gone. Instantly.
I try to cope with the fact that, okay, sure, I’ll see him again. Of course, I’ve heard it a thousand or so times. I’ve heard it enough. Please, stop trying to fix me. Stop trying to give me some remedy. Stop trying to propose something I need to do to “get over” this.
I’m sorry. I can’t “get over” losing someone I love. I miss him.
I don’t know why. I struggle so much with that question. It leaves me confused and, to be honest, angry.
How do you let go?
Please, I’m not asking you for the answer. I’ve had plenty of “answers” from people. Plenty of “how to’s” and “what to do’s”. I don’t need your two-cents. I don’t want your say-so.
Filed under: Biblical Topics
Do you ever experience moments in your walk with the Lord where you just need a break?
I know I do, and honestly, that’s where I’ve been for the past few weeks.
I’ve been tired. Very tired. And not just spiritually. Emotional and physical exhaustion have taken their toll—in fact, I find that I feel most weak and vulnerable overall when my spiritual life is plummeting downward. In the midst of continual trials and testing of my faith, I have made the custom of doing two things: either I choose to ignore the hardships that come my way because I don’t want to deal with them at the moment, or I do the latter and dwell on my problems, becoming consumed with the mentality that life… well… sucks. Either way, I wind up confused, angry, insecure, and apathetic to the truth. Christianity begins to look ever so dull, and the things of God—the meaning of the cross—become annoyances. I start making excuses that, well… I’ve grown up in a Christian home my whole life, so it kind of becomes repetitious after a while. Not too long after, I develop the mindset that I know what I’m doing—the events and commitments and ministries in my life are decided to with no real consideration or leading from the Lord—I know what’s best for me.
Sadly, I’ve realized the hard way that this is truly not the case.
People fail.
I fail.
Circumstances fail.
I want to show a video that a friend recently shared with me. Maybe for you this will just be another video about someone’s life story, etc. and you walk away unphased. Okay, fine. But maybe this will grab your attention like it did for me.
Zac Smith died on May 16, 2010.
All in all, God is in control, whether I like it or not. That means, for me, there’s more to life than worrying about what college I go to, what job I successfully work in, who my future wife will be. There’s more to life than being consumed with the friends I have (or how many for that matter), the legacy I leave behind, the ministries I’m involved in. There’s more to life than constantly finding the next great band or artist or making it big in music or having the right connections. And if I’m wrong, and all this really does matter—living life for me—then I’m pretty much done with everything. I’ve failed enough in my own strength, trying to accomplish things for myself. It weighs me down, it brings too much pain. And I think, more importantly, it hurts my Father more than I can realize.
The author of Hebrews understood the solution to living a life with dependence on Christ.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. . . . Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. — Hebrews 12:1-3, 12-13 ESV
Well that’s good for you Joe. This is your problem, thanks for letting me know that you’ve found the answer.
No. I’m not writing this blog for my own therapeutic means of comfort or something like that. If anything, exposing my failures and weaknesses is rather difficult. Nobody likes to show weakness. No one wants to admit that they have it all wrong and that help is needed. But I trust the Lord to use this to, somehow, encourage someone.
And so the question remains: what about you? Where is God’s place in your life in the midst of trials or hardship?
If you’re in the place like I have been, it’s replacing what you know you should be doing with other things. It’s ignoring Him and distracting yourself with what you know you can control, with what you feel most comfortable with. Trusting God is by no means some walk in the park; you watched it in the life of Zac Smith and I’m sure you know this from experience. Where is God’s place in your life? What is He calling you to trust Him with?
I encourage you, don’t give up—do not settle for apathy, ignorance, or complacency—for “He who began a good work in you will carry it unto completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philppians 1:6).
Filed under: Biblical Topics
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set Your rules before me. — Psalm 119:30 ESV
Faithfulness. Hmm, interesting.
I don’t know about you, but ‘faithful’ is a pretty rare word nowadays. I mean, in an “iCulture” obsessed with getting the latest and greatest, ever-changing appliances; where divorce is at an all-time high, suicide rates have skyrocketed, and pregnancy outside of wedlock is a norm, this word—faithfulness—has become seemingly extinct in our society today.
The way of faithfulness is the road less traveled.
It calls for discipline, endurance, trust, commitment, devotion, humility, selflessness, wisdom, purity, prayer. Who better to consider than Jesus Himself?
It blows my mind when I consider how God is continually faithful to me. Not only did He show this by sending Christ to obediently and willingly die on the cross and three days later raise from the dead, but He shows it even now in my relationship with Him. Continually. Every day. Always—even when I don’t understand. Even when it hurts.
[Your mercies] are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:23 ESV
Lord give me strength—strength to remain committed to you in love, purity, service, attitude, purpose; strength to endure trials, testing, temptation, tribulation, persecution.
Help me remain faithful to You to fix my eyes on Jesus, on Your commands, on Your promises; to diligently study Your Word and consider You in all things.
Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. — Revelation 2:10 ESV
Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance and that sin which so readily clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. — Hebrews 12:1-3 AMP
Filed under: Random Posts
Missing you today grandpa. There’s so much to say; for now, I love you and can’t wait to see you again.
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:21-23 ESV
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD. — Job 1:21 NASB
FRANK DIGEROLAMO
August 15, 1927 — February 8, 2010
Filed under: Biblical Topics
It is said that a picture speaks a thousand words. Now I don’t know about you, but it’s always refreshing and humbling to be reminded of how God has truly blessed my life; it silences my complaining and causes my eyes to be fixed upon His providence, Sovereignty, and goodness.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. — Matthew 6:21 NKJV
Filed under: Random Posts
All you football pros out there… you better watch out…
Way to go Micah! 
Filed under: Biblical Topics
Here’s an interesting picture that I saw in my Bible class this week. I dunno, it just kinda got me thinking.
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. — Genesis 2:7 NASB
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. — Genesis 1:27 NASB
. . . that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. — Ephesians 4:23-24 NASB
