What The New Year Will Bring
We hope against hope that 2007 will be the year we add Samuel to our family. We will be sending our Letter of Intent to the CCAA this week and will be praying fervently that they will have favor on us.
I do hope to dig deeper into the Word this year.I began reading the book Simplify Your Spiritual Life by Donald Whitney. In the section titled 'Take Up Your Cross Daily and Follow Jesus" he explains "the theology of the cross" it was put in a way I hadn't thought of before, or perhaps didn't have ears to hear before.
The theology of the cross means that we get to know God and fellowship with him through our humanity, all our sufferings and struggles, all the tragedy and grief, all the things that so many people want to deny are there. The every day sufferings of broken relationships, physical pain, emotional pain, our sorrows over another's sin or our own patterns of sinfulness. All these things can bring us into fellowship with our Savior. So often we want to live for the next victory, the next blessing, because we feel that will be evidence of God in our lives and that will increase our faith. I want to find God in the opposite, in my failures, in my trials, in my inadequacies, I want to feel close to Jesus in my weaknesses.
This year I hope to embrace the struggles and to count it pure joy whenever I face trials of various kinds as I know this will perfect my faith. I want to learn more of the cross, and the sufferings that Jesus suffered so I can walk with him. I want to take up my cross daily to follow Him.
Noble words but when the trials come I will have to choose to either fall on my knees and go to the cross or rely on my spirituality, my ability to figure things out,my plans and ideas. I pray I need knee pads by the end of the year. I'm afraid choosing God's way will itself sometimes be a struggle, pride and self sufficiency rear their ugly head so often.
My first goal though is to read through the gospels. Sticking close to the word and seeking Jesus on every page and applying it to my days I hope will be a good start to staying God sufficient.
I started this morning reading Matthew Chapters 1-5.
I was struck by the faithfulness of Joseph to do exactly as he was told. God chose Joseph to be Jesus' earthly father. What an honor and privilege and he apparently carried out this roll faithfully; leading and protecting his wife and child through dangerous times.
I was also reminded of how Jesus passed the tests of temptation in the wilderness. He passed the tests that I and everyone have failed. How often do I put food or other pleasures before the word of God, how often do I tempt God by doing what I shouldn't hoping that God will save me, and how often do I desire glory for myself and idolize the things of the world rather than the creator of them.
I hope I can remember these lessons and look to Jesus when I am tempted, because HE is strong when I am weak.
I do hope to dig deeper into the Word this year.I began reading the book Simplify Your Spiritual Life by Donald Whitney. In the section titled 'Take Up Your Cross Daily and Follow Jesus" he explains "the theology of the cross" it was put in a way I hadn't thought of before, or perhaps didn't have ears to hear before.
The theology of the cross means that we get to know God and fellowship with him through our humanity, all our sufferings and struggles, all the tragedy and grief, all the things that so many people want to deny are there. The every day sufferings of broken relationships, physical pain, emotional pain, our sorrows over another's sin or our own patterns of sinfulness. All these things can bring us into fellowship with our Savior. So often we want to live for the next victory, the next blessing, because we feel that will be evidence of God in our lives and that will increase our faith. I want to find God in the opposite, in my failures, in my trials, in my inadequacies, I want to feel close to Jesus in my weaknesses.
This year I hope to embrace the struggles and to count it pure joy whenever I face trials of various kinds as I know this will perfect my faith. I want to learn more of the cross, and the sufferings that Jesus suffered so I can walk with him. I want to take up my cross daily to follow Him.
Noble words but when the trials come I will have to choose to either fall on my knees and go to the cross or rely on my spirituality, my ability to figure things out,my plans and ideas. I pray I need knee pads by the end of the year. I'm afraid choosing God's way will itself sometimes be a struggle, pride and self sufficiency rear their ugly head so often.
My first goal though is to read through the gospels. Sticking close to the word and seeking Jesus on every page and applying it to my days I hope will be a good start to staying God sufficient.
I started this morning reading Matthew Chapters 1-5.
I was struck by the faithfulness of Joseph to do exactly as he was told. God chose Joseph to be Jesus' earthly father. What an honor and privilege and he apparently carried out this roll faithfully; leading and protecting his wife and child through dangerous times.
I was also reminded of how Jesus passed the tests of temptation in the wilderness. He passed the tests that I and everyone have failed. How often do I put food or other pleasures before the word of God, how often do I tempt God by doing what I shouldn't hoping that God will save me, and how often do I desire glory for myself and idolize the things of the world rather than the creator of them.
I hope I can remember these lessons and look to Jesus when I am tempted, because HE is strong when I am weak.
posted by Martha | 2:25 PM
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