A Taste of My Own Medicine

This is one of those posts that has absolutely no good place to begin. I think I MIGHT be coming down with the first bout of whatever goes around every year at the beginning of winter, so I'm sitting at home with ^ that mug of "sick tea" ^ and four straight hours of alone time ahead of me.

I've been telling everyone about this tea of mine over the last few months. My cousin Theo had a sore throat (which I'm pretty sure I caught) and I told him about it back in September. The other day I was texting with my friend Amber only to find out that she's got one now too. Here's what I do: one cup PIPING hot Lipton black tea, one teaspoon honey, one teaspoon lemon juice (I use ReaLemon's bottled version). It's basically a hot Arnold Palmer, but it takes some getting used to. I save them for when I'm sick or feeling like I'm on my way to sick.

Needless to say, I'm there. Yesterday I took not one but TWO naps (I almost NEVER nap). I've been beyond tired and there is absolutely no reason for it. I've been worrying and trudging along and working REALLY hard to finally finish the very last thing I need in order to be able to say that I have graduated from college.

I'm overwhelmed by God's grace and the gift He gives us in each other.

Ever since we came to The Queen's Cottage back in August, we've been attending a church. It has come to feel like HOME. For some reason, I find myself holding my breath. I'm so confused about how long this town will be "home" and a little mad at myself for not wanting it to be.

Everywhere I turn, I've been seeing reminders of God's grace. Kevin and Joan made sure we knew that we are welcome and have been true friends to us in this season. They don't ask questions, they just embrace us. Esther stepped up to the plate to help me with this speech and has devoted countless hours to meet with me. The handful of 20 somethings that I've met have caused me to go out of my way to make new friends.

And then there are the words...Hearing the Bible read out loud week after week, receiving prayers that have been carefully constructed, and preaching that lays out who God is and what He is up to have been SUCH a treat. When I scroll through facebook or click on an interesting article or open my own Bible, I keep finding declarations of my need for and God's abundant gift of GRACE.

My body might be under the weather, but my soul is flourishing. My flesh might be worried and afraid and forgetful, but my spirit is being ministered to by the Helper that Christ promised to me.

Maybe that's where you are this season...Maybe life is confusing. Maybe you're longing for a Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years filled with ALL of your loved ones gathered around you. Maybe you've been blessed with MUCH, but find yourself longing for something else.

Won't you join me in tasting the medicine?

"For the LORD your God is a merciful God." Deuteronomy 4:33 

On Palm Sunday

It's Palm Sunday, but I didn't wake up with that on my mind. I found out while I was scrolling through Facebook. I knew it was coming, I just forgot that it was THIS Sunday. I don't go to church, in fact, I haven't gone regularly in nearly four years. I'm ashamed to admit that, but it's the way things are.

It's Palm Sunday and I don't have a large group of Christians to celebrate with. I won't be waving a palm leaf. I won't be singing any favorite hymns. I'm missing out on one of the happiest times of the year that Christians get to take part in. To say that I "miss" being part of a body of believers would be a complete understatement. I long for a church the way that most of my single friends long for marriage.

I long for the day when I live in a community that has at least a small body of strong believers who gather together to hear God's Word and who labor together to live by that Word throughout the rest of the week. I've experienced friendships with people whose Christianity is genuine. Being with them means hearing truth and sharing truth and enjoying God together. It can't be helped. It comes naturally and it doesn't ever stop.

For now, God has me in a place where these people are few and far between. The churches distort God's Word either blatantly or by the conduct they allow among their members. The Gospel is not good news here. God said it would be like that. For whatever reason, I'm still here. This same place where I've grown in God is the place where being a Christian produced an especially deep hope in Him.

Praise God for your churches. Praise God for men who are faithful to His Word. Praise God for the brothers and sisters in Christ who are eager to share this season of celebration with you! Above all, praise God for making Himself known by way of the long awaited Messiah! Though it is difficult at times, praise God for the trials you face, for they are building you up in Him.

It's Palm Sunday and I'm longing for heaven. And you know, I'm confident that that's exactly what Jesus Christ intended!

I believe that it is essential 

for Christians to be a part of a body of believers! 

Feel free to e-mail me and we can chat about your concerns. 

Promises

If there is ONE thing in my soul that needs to be worked on each day, it is this:
hope in God...
Hoping in God sustains us.
Hoping in God gives us joy and peace and contentment.
Hoping in God is our security.
Hoping in God gives us purpose. 
Hoping in God is ours in Jesus. 
Yet...I can at least speak for myself here...So often we worry (with or without God), question, fret, and a whole slew of other things that leave us as ships ready to be tossed by whatever wave happens to come our way next. 
I went to write out a verse in Lamentations about the mercies of God being new every morning. As I copied it down, I decided to read the verses around it. And that's when my mind turned right back to that familiar place: 
hope in God...

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in Him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24

 The steadfast love is with us, His mercy is always new, He is faithful, He is our portion...We have so many reasons to hope and when we have come to the end, to hope some more. 
Hope in God...You won't be disappointed! 

Believing AND Caring

Last month I reviewed a copy of Joshua Harris's brand new book, "Humble Orthodoxy". 
I really enjoyed this book! 
As you can guess, Harris's aim was to communicate the fact that while orthodoxy (right belief about God) is absolutely necessary, so is humbly living alongside others who may or may not share those beliefs. 
There are several extremes: Some people don't know what they believe and don't really care what other people may or may not believe. Other people know exactly what they believe and don't have the time of day to calmly reason with others who do not agree with them. Still yet, some people know what they believe but are not concerned with what others may be dealing with.
Live and let live is NOT an option. 
Live and force to live is NOT an option.
Through "Humble Orthodoxy", Harris communicates just how we should aim to live as we stand firm in the truth and yet remain compassionate and concerned for those around us. 
Pick up the book and measure yourself. Click HERE. 
My guess is that you're either apathetic or rude...Unfortunately, I know that I bounce between the two. 
"Humble Orthodoxy" is a great companion to Harris's other book, "Dug Down Deep". With the two, you'll be able to get a grip on right thinking and right communicating....You'll be able to be a Christian who knows truth and lives to continually and humbly defend and share the truth that is changing your life each day. 



I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. All thoughts and comments are my own. 

"A Quest for More"

I think I've told you about the stash of awesome books that I received for Christmas last year. I haven't been reading nearly as much as I should, but I just might make it through them before this next Christmas rolls around.

Lately, I have been reading this lovely book.

Every chapter begins with a question that gets you thinking about how the truths that you will be reading apply to your own life. In other words, how you tend to act like you instead of like Christ. That's how Tripp works, calling out sin and pointing towards righteousness. That's good stuff.

Those are the kinds of authors, pastors, preachers, and friends we need to keep near us.

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today',

that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

Hebrews 3:13

That's a big responsibility. The human relationships that we are forming are mainly about helping us NOT become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Let me tell you, if you haven't figured this out yet, not only is sin deceitful, but so is the heart. We have got to be purposefully pursuing an openness towards these kinds of exhortations that will call us to be more like Christ. 

Back to the book....Tripp also opens every chapter with a single statement that basically summarizes whatever he is about to say in that chapter. It makes the truth he's seeking to communicate very clear and leaves you ready to dig deeper. 

He closes every chapter with a final question that ties everything you've just been reading, considering, and thinking together in a way that brings it HOME. 

 

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I have some news to share...

#1 on my sidebar there are now several ways for you to subscribe to my blog if you haven't already. I haven't decided which of the three options will stay on the sidebar yet. What do you think? 

#2 While I was writing this post the exact thing I was talking about happened. I'm eating almonds, blogging, and talking on the phone with a friend who I am buying a camera from. The almonds get dipped into, I am asked to move to a different computer (twice), and there are already plans being made for others to use my camera. No big deal, right? Yeah, I'm a sinner, so it was kind of a big deal. 

#3 I decided to go for it. I'm buying my first SLR camera. These days it seems like everyone is a photographer, everyone has a nice camera, and when everyone is doing it, that usually kills whatever desire I may have had to do it. I've gone back and forth for quite a while. The right deal came my way. This camera should be in hands very soon!

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