Encountering Jesus at a Deli

I'm pretty selfish. This is especially true when I'm feeling 'down'...which is another way of characterizing 'self-pity'. When I'm down, I get grumpy about everything and I am so unloving. I was acting this way last Sunday. I dropped Saharh off for MSO rehearsal and I went to Jason's Deli. On the way, I was grumbling to God. I was complaining about how hard it is to believe in Him. Even worse, it was more difficult for me to feel like believing in Him. I wanted Him to go out of His way to make me feel better so that I could 'feel' happy again. I'm not saying God doesn't give us joy, but my motivation for it was entirely out of self-pity.

I ordered half-sandwich / half-soup deal. Seafood gumbo (mmmmmm gumbo) and a New York Yankee. Don't let the name fool you, it's a great sandwich. Anyway, I proceeded down the line and waited behind sweet looking elderly couple. Now this deli has a unique ordering process. I gave my order to someone I can only define as a 'ticket-writer'. I'll call him Ticket Jimmy for fun. Ticket Jimmy wrote my order on a piece of two-sheet, carbon paper. He gave me the yellow copy and sent the white copy down 'the line'. The elderly couple had bypassed this process though, and they told Cashier Susie (didn't catch her real name either) their order directly. The wanted a bowl of chicken-noodle, and a bowl of broccoli-cheddar. Cashier Susie called out the imprompt order to Soup-Master Kevin and Soup-Master Kevin promptly got their order ready.

Now apparently Soup-Master Kevin was working on my order because he made a bowl of seafood gumbo and a bowl of chicken-noodle. The elderly man noticed something wasn't quite right but he didn't know how to say it. I introduced myself into the equation (we'll call myself Selfish Josh for now) and clarified the mix up for the Soup-Master. Kevin promptly fixed the elderly couple's order and then handed me the bowl of seafood gumbo. He then told me to go fix my drink, and my sandwich would be ready in about four minutes. He literally said four minutes. Who says 'four minutes'? We usually say 'five minutes' or a 'few minutes', but not Soup-Master Kevin. He wouldn't be the Soup-Master if he did. I'm thinking to myself, this guy is awesome.

Anyway, I go back to the counter around four-minutes later and Organizational Ralph is putting my order together. I see a tray with a 'cup' of seafood gumbo and then a sandwich next to that one that looks a lot like a New York Yankee. Uh oh. Soup-Master Kevin had given me too much soup. I told Ralph and Ralph said, 'Don't worry about it, enjoy the bowl.' I relunctantly say ok, though I had already gotten my wallet half-way out to pay for the excess.

I sit down to read while I'm eating and the author tells me that life is not about me. It is not a play where I am the lead actor, and everything around me supports my story. I am a part of the story of God's glory and am only a part, not the center-piece. Life is not about me, it's about Jesus. Hearing this snapped me out of my selfish attitude. There was so much wisdom in this guy's story that I knew the Lord was speaking to my heart and correcting me in the way that only He can do.

So, after snapping out of my mood, I realized that I didn't want to take advantage of the soup miscommunication. I went back to Cashier Susie and informed her that I wanted to pay the difference. Susie called Super-Cool Ray over and informed him of the situation. Ray looked at me and said that he appreciated the thought, but he wanted me to have the extra soup at no extra cost. He said that something just got mixed up and that it was ok. I told him I was very willing to pay the extra cost. He interrupted me and said, "Did you enjoy it?" I quickly and truthfully told him 'yes' (the soup was awesome). He smiled and said,"That's all that matters to me."

That encounter with Ray was an encounter with Jesus. Ray demonstrated the love of Jesus to me. Ray gave me something I didn't deserve and told me to enjoy it rather than try to earn it. Jesus paid something that we couldn't pay back even if we wanted. He doesn't ask us to spend the rest of our lives to pay the difference, He invites us to enjoy Him forever. God truly is an awesome God.

I'm Starting to See This More and More...

I write this as a confession about myself. I was listening to a radio show that is hosted by a couple of guys that are followers of Jesus. A lot of times these guys tell funny stories about growing up or family life. They also do creative funny things like have racing championships with lawnmowers. Occassionally, however, these guys will get into politics or pop culture news events and that's when an interesting thing reveals itself to me. I have been just too judgemental.

When I start blasting the 'far left' for their opinions I can end up sounding just like they sound to me. I'm starting to see that mixing politics with my spirtual lifestyle is a very dangerous thing. Jesus didn't seem to get very involved in political things. I don't think he sat at the supper table talking about some new hedonistic law passed by the Roman legislation. It was probably the Pharisees who sat around the table saying, "You know they just legalized gay marriage over in Rome? What a downtrodden people they are." It is one thing to share with someone why I believe what I believe, while casting my vote in humility. It is another thing to do it with such an arrogant attitude. I'm not advocating that I let legislations go unchallenged, but I think Christians should be very careful of this area and approach it with great humility. When I spend more time complaining and forecasting doom on our current legislature, I ignore the genuine needs that people have. People need food, mom's need clothes for their kids, jobless people need shelter and hope, but mostly people need the love of Jesus. There isn't enough time in my day to judge others and follow Jesus. It has to be one or the other.

Or how about when some celebrity gets into another nasty divorce or drug problem, I look down my nose and write them off as if they weren't a person like me. I'm so comfortable casting my opinions of people in the popular culture because...well I don't know why. Is it because they have more money than me, and since they do, they should automagically have some kind of behavior modification? Is money really that powerful? Does a rich person throw themselves into some Biblical justification for self-righteous comments from the church, just because they're wealthy? Or just because they're enjoying a type of lifestyle that I'm supposed to obstain from? Am I jealous? I act as if they shouldn't have feelings and that they don't need love because they have the popularity and the finances to make up for whatever's lacking. I sit there and tell them money will never be enough, but I judge them as if I believed it should be enough.

I make comments about the people around me, the clothes they wear, and the personal problems that may have been revealed about them. I'm not a very trustworthy person to be honest. I ramble on and on about people and frankly I'm just tired of myself. I'm not sure what purpose it is supposed to fit when I talk so judgementally and negative about people, but I have to confess that I do. I say all of this to say...that I repent. Lord Jesus show me how to follow you, and love like you do. I don't want to dishonor you anymore with this judgemental attitude. I confess it to you and ask for you to change my heart and rescue me from my own foolishness.

Yearning, Knowing and Yearning to Know

Today after a week of abscences from my prayer closet, I see how knowledge can puff up. (1 Corinthians 8:1) When the Spirit shines His light on all the things of my life, He reveals all of the amazing places I could go that day. Opportunities exist to be productive in my place of work, contribute to group discussions, spend time in the body of Christ (the Church), and so much more. There are so many options each day, but on days like today the light shines brightest on a closet in our apartment. That's the place I really wish I could be today. There is nothing inherently evil about what is keeping me from being there right now. For now, you see, is not the time set aside for me to be there. Unfortunately I neglected those times this week and I sit here, not in condemnation. Praise the Lord, I feel no condemnation because my life is hidden in Him now. I feel something else. I feel something that I could only quantify as an ever increasing desire. In other words, a yearning. I have a yearning to communicate with Christ, at the foot of the cross, and in the light of His words.

My motive isn't for head-knowledge, but for the substance of a relationship with Christ. The inner workings of a relationship that is bonded in privacy and intimacy with Him. There are many wonderful people that I have the privlege to say I know. I'm glad to know the likes of men like Andrew Sivulka, the Knowles Brothers, Brad Knueven, Benjamen Burke, Chad Vail, and Zachary Hung. I consider my relationship with my sister, parents, parents in love, new sisters (Suphia and Sara) and grandparents to be invaluable. I have the great pleasure and warm opportunities to grow closer to my wife, Saharh Burke, each day. There are so many more that I am thankful to know that I cannot take the time to write them at this moment. But the gloss of all these relationships grows dim and pale compared to the desire welling up within me to know Christ.

I don't take credit for this desire. It is something that has been planted within me by a power beyond my control. The Holy Spirit has shined His light on my heart and I can literally taste and see how only Jesus can fill what is lacking. Only what Christ inspires can be built on genuine love, truth, and beauty. Only in Christ can those other relationships shine. The only response my heart can muster is a thankfulness and a humble plea for more yearning and more hunger. By His grace, I will meet with Him in a quiet place tomorrow, so that I can fellowship with Him in private. Until then I will continue to seek the whispers of His voice in the crowded bellows of circumstance. Praise Jesus for the hunger that he both creates and quenches. I leave this post with the words of David Crowder.

"Come and listen. Come to the water's edge, all of you, who know and fear the Lord. Come and listen. Come to the water's edge, all of you, who are thirsty come."

Freedom from Comparison and Being Like Everyone Else

I don't remember the first time I compared myself to someone else. I was probably very young and it was probably over something very silly. Maybe someone had a nicer tricycle than I did. Maybe someone was better at using a router in shop class. Perhaps a colleague was better at mock debate in Washington D.C. There's no way I can forget the athletes that were better than me on the court in high school. After reading a Taste & See Article by John Piper, I can see that comparison of myself to another mortal is bondage. It is a unique slavery in that it has the power to hold us back, and drive us forward. Yet, it is still slavery. In the article entitled "What is That to You? You Follow Me!", Piper illustrates the statements of Christ to Peter. (John 21:18-22) Peter had compared himself to another and Jesus quickly cast that bondage aside. "What is it to you?", Jesus said. What is it to me? What power do I have over another? What gain is there in comparable to someone else? When I compare myself to a person, I either put them on a pedastal on which they do not belong or beneath me, which is a place they do not belong either. Performance driven by comparison is slavery. Anything good, comes from the Father of Lights (James 1:17). Anything worth emulating, is simply emulating the character of Christ. What is it to me, what the Lord chooses to do with another?...nothing. There is only the call to follow Jesus.

Lord Jesus, please squelch the comparitive nature within me. I submit it to you. I long to be free from that which entangles and hinders my stroll in the garden with you.

(Hebrews 12:1)
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race MARKED OUT FOR US."

Click here for the Piper article.

Popular Singer/Songwriter Derek Webb Makes His Entire Latest Album Free

I don't see this happen very often, but I'm not going to claim this is the first time either. Derek Webb (formerly with Caedmon's Call), who has released three major albums has decided to release his latest album for free at freederekwebb.com. He asks that those who would've spent money on his cds, spend them on help organizations instead...

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You can never be a Christian too long...(Part 2)

...to learn you haven't got it all figured out and that there is an unceasing need for the understanding of the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your hear and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

I'm learning that we shouldn't lean on our own understanding in any facet of this earthly existence. I assumed I knew a lot about the heart of God and have been easily drawn into the clamour of the crowd. I am so eager to participate on one side or the other in a picket-sign contest. God is showing me that I need to slow down and seek his understanding before I go running out into the world to participate in the world's debates. Without building my foundation on the rock, my faith will be nothing more than shifting sand. I am acknowledging Jesus and leaning not on my own understanding. I trust that He will make the paths straight.

You can never be a Christian long enough...(part 3)

...to stop realizing you don't know everything. Praise Jesus :)

I must essentially renounce possessions of all kinds, not for salvation (for only one thing saves a person and that is absolute reliance in faith upon Jesus Christ), but to follow Jesus. ". . . come. . . and follow Me." And the road is the way He went.

That paragraph came from this morning's Oswald Chambers devotional. If there's anything being married can teach, it is that my perspective is not the only perspective to be had on everything. It's amazing how critical and unappreciative we can become of the person we have vowed to love, honor and cherish for the rest of our lives. When this criticism and unappreciative nature is confronted by the Holy Spirit (through whatever means He chooses), my natural reaction tends to be..."Yeah, but..." Insert redirectional clause here. Now this applies to everyone in every fascet of life. For example, I can be pretty judgemental of people, groups, and events that I hear about on the news. But Jesus comes right back with the Spirit saying, "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:5)

Jesus wants me to follow Him and Jesus did not set an example for us to follow so that we could be judgemental, overbearing and insensitive people. I'm not saying that sin isn't wrong. I'm also not saying that there isn't a place for godly-correction. But as the Scripture says, we must be right with God before we can begin to confront another. Also, if we are right with God then we will confront the other person IN LOVE, not in judgement. It also means that we don't have to confront people on every little thing. For example, taking up someone's offense when they haven't been offended. Sometimes people I know may do or say things that, in my mind (for whatever that's worth), may offend others. In the flesh, I may pull the 'offender' aside and say,"You offended that person...go and apologize." That may be true and it also may not be true. The point is that I should pray long and hard before trying to be the Holy Spirit in someone else's life. The Lord may give us a word for them, or He may be trying to teach US something. The point is we should be quick to listen and slow to speak. In some ways behaving this way strikes me as a lack of trust in God to speak to His children, as if I could say it any better.

I love how Oswald Chambers talks about surrendering every possession or aspect of our lives. We don't need to do this for salvation, but we DO need to do this in order to follow Jesus. I guess one of the possessions I'm needing to surrender is my overbearing, correctional attitude. God is God and I am not. I am crucified with Christ, therefore I know longer live. (Galations 2:20) Therefore, the least frustrating existence to strive for would be one in which I pursue Him while carrying nothing else. God Himself will provide whatever is needed (Genesis 22:8 sort of and 1 Peter 4:11), both in our own lives and in the lives of His children around us.

Prophet, Priest and King

Master, Teacher, and Lord...the names that could be used to describe Christ are bountiful. (I like the word bountiful...so I use it when I can. :) ) I just heard this song say that this is the Judge that ends the strife where wit and reason fail. The deeper I plunge (figuratively) into knowing Christ the more I realize a paradox. The more I learn about who I am in Christ, the more I learn about Christ. The more I know about my identity in Christ, the more I want to know Him. This isn't a search to find myself, but a search to find myself in Him. In order to be found in Him, I need to be conformed to Him. In order to be conformed to Him, I must know Him and obey Him. Who I truly am, can only be found in learning who He truly is for I can only be found in Him. Romans 6 is awesome stuff.

When we were born, we were born with a flesh-man and a spirit-man. The flesh-man is cursed because of the fall of man. The spirit-man is chained and a slave to the flesh-man. Then Christ died and all who believe die with Him. The spirit-man identifies with the death of Christ and dies to the flesh. The chains that bound the spirit-man can no longer hold the spirit-man because the spirit-man has died and is now with Christ. However, just as Christ rose from the dead, so does our spirit-man after being identified or 'crucified with Christ'. The spirit-man has risen back to life in us and is no longer bound to conform to the flesh-man. The spirit-man is now bound to Christ.

Oh how I want to know Him.

You can never be a Christian too long... (Part 1)

...to have a life-changing experience.

This last weekend was spent at a Men's Retreat learning more about Jesus and at a friend's church seeing how awesome Jesus has been in my friend's life. Brad Knueven got baptised and I got to hear some basic truths about the Christian's identity in Christ from an evangelist named John Hobbs (I think it's Hobbs).

John spoke on the subject of the identity of the flesh-man vs the spirit-man. (you can interchange man with woman in that statement of course) Using Scripture from all over the word (starting with Proverbs 3:5-6), John reminded us that we have been crucified with Christ, therefore we no longer live, but Christ lives in us (the spirit-man). Our destiny is not to be flesh-people trying to have a spiritual experience, but spiritual people surviving in a human experience. There is so much detail to this story that I can't give it justice but I walked away with an understanding of how I can know Jesus more, release people of expectations (because expectations 'can' be a form of bondage for ourselves and those we place the expectations on) and the need to wait on God. Our spirit-man needs to wait on God in order to be fed. If the spirit-man is not fed, the flesh-man will take over, but if the spirit-man is fed then the spirit-man (under the Lordship of Jesus) will rule. If anyone wants to know more about it, just let me know and I can even look at getting you the cds. Lifechanging truth.

The visit to Buckhead was spectacular as well. I was so tired from the trip there that I thought I would have a hard time enjoying the visit. However, once we arrived, Brad and all of his friends at Buckhead didn't fail to show us the love and friendliness of Christ. People there are passionate about Jesus and it was so refreshing to meet so many people who were passionate about our Savior. Brad's baptism was great and another chapter in Brad's amazing story of God's redeeming grace in Jesus. As if all that wasn't enough, a man preached a paradigm-shifting message on the reality of Heaven. Heaven isn't a bunch of floating cloads, or us sitting around playing harps all day. However, in Scripture (both the Old and New Testament) God speaks of creating a new heaven and a new earth. (The greek here basically means a new 'universe' including a new 'earth'.) The ramifications of this truth is comes down to how through this truth, Heaven is relevant to our every day life.

Check it out here at Buckhead's site: http://www.buckheadchurch.org/messages
The sermon is entitled 'Heaven or Bust: Part 1'. It's not very long but it is so, so good. Praise Jesus.

Can I not be different?

I'm not sure how many times a day this happens. There is no formula for the circumstances that produce it either. I am sure, however, the condition of my heart is very much the same in each instance. Whether the issue is politics, pop culture, or 'the way things are these days', I find myself forecasting doom over the world around me. I observe a circuit court ruling and begin predicting the downfall of our society. I read about a theological argument choosing paper over plastic and I mock those who would waste such time and energy on such nonsense. Maybe I'll see a movie preview and scoff at the nature of the film while calling it a true 'sign of the times'...whatever that's supposed to mean. In these moments, my very actions and words reak of self-righteousness, judgement and despair. Worst of all, this is sometimes acceptable in my circles of society and given enough time I could spend more energy talking about how terrible that is as well.

At this point in my recollections I could very easily cry out like Paul saying , "What a wretched man I am?! Who will save me from this body of death?! (Romans 7:24) My state of being would reflect David's confessions in Psalm 37:22. At those times I am nothing more than a senseless, ignorant person behaving no better than a beast responding, as a slave, to the primal instincts of nature. Of course, left to myself the only answer would be despair. However, God is greater than I. He is so much greater than I. In His grace, He spoke these words in Isaiah 8:11-17:

11For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12"Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

14And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken."

16Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. 17I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.

In this the Lord is saying clearly that I should not respond to the daily disappointments of our society or church with the spite of the flesh. I should not forecast doom as if to give into hopelessness and cease believing in God's redeeming power. Andrew Murray points out how we should respond biblically to moments like these in his book Waiting on God by saying:

"Instead of the tone of judgement or condemnation, of despondency or despair, realise your calling to wait upon God."

We are to wait on God in noticing the symptoms of sin around us. We are to wait upon God and fear Him. We are to wait upon God on behalf of those around us that need Him, just as we should wait on Him in our own deffeciency. Oh how ofen I do no turn over the daily trappings of distraction to the redeeming power found only in waiting on God. Oh my soul, wait only on God.

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised. So shall I be saved from my enemies, I will call upon the Lord. The Lord liveth and blessed be the rock and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Be true to what?

"Be true to your heart...believe in yourself...you can do anything if you set your mind to it." I find it very difficult to take those words of advice. Please don't misunderstand my intentions, I do not mean to downplay the importance of not giving up. Nor do I imply that one should simply reject themselves. I do however imply that seeking to believe in one's own self is a lost cause. We say 'be true to your heart', but what if what you want in your heart is...revenge, lust, or greed. What if deep down in one's heart, the desire is in itself deceitful and corrupt. A movie I once saw had a character telling a woman that the only true sin is to deny what one's heart desires. I presume then that the character believed the film's antagonist was merely following his heart when the villian decided to try and kill hundred's of people. That's the paradox of 'following one's heart'. If we are all truly meant to just follow our hearts, then there is no right and there is no wrong. We are all merely following our hearts when we steal, when we kill and when we destroy. When i a person is freely encouraged to follow the bent of their own heart, then words that were once evil are now merely options. Should I kill or should I save? Do I want paper or plastic? What does it matter, simply follow your heart. By now, or maybe long before now the reader has realized the sarcasm with which I am speaking. However, I do not think it can be easily argued against. In reality we are trying to tell people to be true to their hearts, in so much as it complies with some...good. But what is 'good'? What is 'good' to me, a happily married, white male who grew up in a simple town could be exceedingly different from the 'good' embraced by a kid raised by a single parent in the Bronx. So is it our perceptions of what exemplifies 'good' meant to be the navigator for our hearts? I believe that this just cannot be so. Even I, the kid raised in a simple town, with a pleasant life would rather die than live by my own heart's standards alone. For I believe, if left to my own heart's leanings, I could lead a life filled with more ill nature than a hundred ruffions of the street. The human heart is deceitful even unto itself. It must be shaped, it must be...refined. And so the words of a song echo in my ear:

"Yes, and I must, I will esteem
All things but loss for Jesus' sake
O may my soul be found in Him
And of His righteousness partake
Amen, amen

The best obedience of my hands
Dares not appear before Thy throne
But faith can answer Thy demands
By pleading what my Lord has done"

I put no faith in my own heart, but only in the love of Jesus which has come into my heart. For I long to be changed from the inside out, having my heart refined by the heart of God. He is the only 'good', and he is the only means by which to embrace that which is 'good'. 'Trust in the Lord with all of your heart...', says the Word. My heart must be completely dependent, not independent, on the truth of the Lord. Even still it is emphasized, '...and lean not on your own understanding.' Our understanding cannot be shaped by our own understanding of what is good. Our understaning must be shaped by that which is good. 'For the Lord is good...and His love endures forever.' We must be true to the ways of the Lord.

Do not fret...it only leads to evil

I used to love reading Proverbs. To have wisdom was my dream. I aspired to be wise in how I lived my life. I desired to be pleasing to God. How much of that, I wonder, was for Him and what He has done for me? When I look back on where I was not wise, I am discouraged. Yet the truth of God's Word says that though a man stumble, the Lord keeps his feet sure. So stumbling isn't exactly uncommon for people like me...people like us. We are all like sheep whom have gone astray. Yet God's love is not reserved for those of us who found a way back. I'm not really convinced that any of us could ever find a way if it were not provided for us. So, falling short of my aspirations to be wise might be just what I needed. For if they were my aspirations...the aspirations of a straying sheep...then they were of no value. They held no truth. Only a senseless longing and striving to leave the protection of my Shepherd, just so I could prove that I was worthy of Him. A sensless passion to give an unwanted sacrifice. Derek Webb mentions in his song, "A New Law", that the cry of the flesh is a new checklist. A new way to beat flesh. A new way to earn salvation. A new way to fix this...condition. Just like the Israelites of the Old Testament, begging for a new king when they already had THE King. We want a new law to keep when Someone has already fulfilled the old one. I no longer aspire to be a wise man. I want to know Christ. Jesus fulfilled it all. He has given everything. Now I can abide in Him. I don't have to abide...I can abide...emphasis on 'can'. I get to abide. So why be afraid? Why be afraid of this world? Why be afraid of not living up to my aspirations? Surely there is a word about this in the Word. There is...

Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger, turn from wrath; do not fret...it only leads to evil.

David Crowder sang of this:
Take my fret, take my fear
All I have, I'm leaving here
Be all my hopes, Be all my dreams
Your mind delights me, my everything

I will worship, You Lord, only You Lord
And I will bow down, before You, only You Lord
- Only You

So let's not fret when our plans go to waste, or when the enemy appears to win...It isn't our aspirations or our glory that our lives depend on...it is His and He has overcome.

Benjamin Franklin's 13 Personal Goals

This was a pretty interesting article that was posted on Digg.com. With the exception of a few areas this is a pretty cool self-check for anyone. I'd like to see some kind of Scripture reference next to each section with perhaps some changes in wording, but overall you can see why Benjamen Franklin was such an interesting person and how the Word of God inspires.

"He, being Jesus, must increase and we must decrease" - somewhere in the book of John, look it up.

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Reflections of Psalm 46

"God is our help and our strength...a very present help..." - Psalm 46

Oswald Chamber used another verse from this chapter in this morning's devotional. I would put the link in this article but by tomorrow you will only see tomorrow's inspired message...oh wait...that could be good too. Here ya go:
http://www.rbc.org/utmost/

Saharh and I seem to be constantly learning about our smallness in the grand scope of God's design. Louis Giglio's inspiring message entitled "Indescribable" and Andy Stanley's expositions on prayer in American culture have literally forced us to realize our tiny existences. (Oh yeah, let's not leave out life's circumstances). Alone, we have no strength. However we have been equally encouraged by the reassurance of God's tremendousnessnessness. I know that isn't a word but there really isn't a word for what I'm trying to say anyway. Though we are quite tiny, God is not. As Psalms 46 relates time and again...God is our strength. So we will persevere in hopes of finding the grace and mercy for which we will never cease to be in dire need. I leave today with this quote:

"If our hopes seem to be experiencing disappointment right now, it simply means that they are being purified." - Oswald Chambers