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Hello out there… if there is anyone who may follow my blog you will see that I have changed the look once again. Sorry, if that troubles you, I just can’t find a format that I really like. I’ve considered changing to another blogsite, but hey I don’t want to lose your attention.
Just finished the major hump of my semester and boy am I relieved. I have to write one more paper that I plan on enjoying. I took some days off of work and I feel like a kid skipping school. Haven’t showered… been listening to 20 year old sermons from Arthur Burt, planning the coming school year, and of course thinking about you.
Last night had a wonderful small group at the house. We talked about the “elephant in the room” that no one likes to talk about, the struggle to surrender. It was amazingly liberating to realize that we all struggle to surrender and in our realization we rediscovered why we need it and why it hinders others and ourselves when we choose not to fight the good fight. Camped out in Psalm 42 (as the dear panteth for the water…), then to Psalm 24 (who may ascend the hill of God…), then 2 Peter 1…
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Notice the highlighted texts God clearly expects our participation)
For this is surely the fight that is the good fight. We have a responsibility to harvest our own souls. There is no one else who will do so for us. And if you have trouble with your “self” look at Psalm 42, Korah gives a great example of a technique that many people of prayer have embraced, speaking to your own soul. He says, “Why are you downcast oh my soul…” often times in prayer I speak over my “self” saying things like, “I have been bought with a price, I am a son of God, precious before the Father (you can picture me walking heavily and speaking loudly to myself).” Also I would recommend to you that David sets a beautiful example of asking God to search his soul. How can you go wrong with asking for God to inspect you and do maintenance? Like a shepherd to the sheep. He anoints it head so that bugs will not bother it, and takes away the ratty wool that weights it down; he leads and takes care of the flock. But thankfully we choose to be in His flock and choose to be taken care of, and in doing so get to glorify God by making our choice.
Last week I was wrestling with my understanding of Divine Foreknowledge, Black Friday, and memorizing every person and significant event from birth of the Church to the reformation. This week I’m chillin’ at home, drinking coffee in my PJs, reading scripture and comic books, and contemplating the life of “the Ox” Thomas Aquinas. The seasons are changing… praise God.
Collision of Kingdoms 