Psalms 139 (part 2)

Good mornin'!

                     Earlier in the year, I wrote, "to me, Psalm 139 is one of the most beautiful passages ever written.  It exhibits truth and beauty by exposing the reality in my own life and God's omniscient relationship with me."  In v. 1-6, we looked at how the Creator comes to us; He searches us and protects us.  Where else can we find Him? 

 Psalms 139:7 -12: 

"7Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning
    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light about me be night,”
¹² even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light with you."


The writer of this Psalm is staring up at the heavens, saying, "Where can I NOT find you?"  His voice is very strong, but not angry.  The fact that He doesn't leave us, and He never stops leading us is overwhelming.    He will hold you, even in the darkest night.  The comfort of our Father's presence isn't by coincidence.  We're made for Him - rather, by Him.  Wherever we are, our God is too.

-Sarah

Here Be Dragons

 Dear readers,

                       Samuel Isaac and I are embarking on an adventure.  For the next month, we'll be venturing into the caves of our blog-o-spheres.  In honor of this occasion, you are now experiencing a new Fall layout of I'mnotforme. 

                        Isaac's writing domain lies here.  I'm envious of the great fun he's got on there. A pact with Merry Brandybuck is the only possible explanation for it.  

                       Thanks for joining us!  You've been warned. 

-Sarah

Romans 12:2

I used to think that I was the one that made sense.  I understood easily and fully.  I "got" the Bible without even trying. 

Now, 99.99% of the time, I don't understand what is written in God's word.  One half of the reason is because I don't know enough about David's life, or Biblical imagery, ect.  The other reason is that I don't make sense. 

It's easy for us to think we've got it together.  We can hold a good cover, so good that we can convince ourselves into thinking that we can figure life out.  Uho.  Here's where the problems start.  - We only know as much as we will acknowledge we don't know (is your tongue twisted yet?). - 

God gives us this concept "renewing our minds."

Wait... Renewing... Aren't I already brand-spanking new?  

"Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by the testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  - Romans 12:2 ESV 

God's ways are far above my ways.  My thoughts are not His thoughts.  I cannot understand Him, but I can learn His ways through the renewing of my mind.  That way, my thoughts can be aligned with His, and He will guide me.  My God knows far better than I what IS.  He also gives many, many words, friends, prayers so that we will learn what makes sense according to Him. 

Matthew 2:1-5, 11

     You've got to love this story.  What I think makes it great can be summed up in one word, which doesn't happen very often.  Let's cherish this moment.  

       Providence!  Thanks to Omnibus I, I've been looking out for providence in lives and stories for the past couple years.  And providence can be seen so clearly in the story of the wise men!  Even though it's seven weeks past Easter, I think we need to be reminded in this stressful time of God's care for us students... even during the beginnings of exams.  
     I'd like to just make two sub points.  1) God's guidance of the Magi, even through their ignorance(which I certainly have plenty of)    2) God's care through the 3 gifts  
1!  Let's start with the Word. 
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:" (here they go on to quote Micah 5:2,4.) - Matthew 2:1-5
   Since that was quite a chunk, here's verse 4 again.  "When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born."   It's been suggested that the Magi or the Persian wise men were knowledgeable in the scriptures, which, for all we know, may be possible.  Whatever the case may be, they still needed a big piece of help(just like we do - remembering information, figuring out how to exhibit it clearly, jumping from point A to point B or just having the strength to continue on).  God faithfully guided them - and this is besides directing the star and compelling them to follow it.  He led them to the right place, to the absolute experts of their time in the Old Testament who foretold the coming King.  God didn't leave them as failures but gave them what they needed to continue on.

2:     "¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." - Matthew 2:11
      These gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh, are what first caused me to stop, about face, and see how clearly and deliberately God had acted.  We know that He will never forsake us but give us what we need to continue on.  Now, through these gifts, we can also see that God works in this world for a reason.  I may not know why I'm studying biology (and really dread memorizing all of it) but God will use it in the future.  You may really despise the main theories of philosophers but God knows exactly when it will help you from being deceived by the lies of this world.  He knows, He plans and He cares for you.  He guides you and will never forsake you, even in the darkest of exams.

Love,
Sarah
 

Acts 10:34-43 - Writing Exercise

One reason that I am thankful for an education that praises Jesus Christ is that we delve into Scripture in all kinds of ways.

This week, we had a quick writing assignment to rewrite a portion of Acts in different modes.  Here's the original text and two examples(It's pretty apparent which writing style I'm better at).   I hope you think a little about the way the Bible was written and how we can convey the Gospel to others through this rich language of ours.

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that fGodgshows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.  As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (lhe is Lord of all),  you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.  And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.  They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,  but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,  not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.  To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:34-43, ESV)

God does not have biases. Why would He show prejudice or favor towards one or another? The LORD sent His word to the ends of the earth, to all times. Where was the Truth proclaimed? Jesus spoke of His love through His people through all Galilee concerning the Holy Spirit, the events in Jerusalem and the freedom He brought. What should we do, hearing this ourselves? Nothing but tell of the resurrection on the third day and live knowing this hope. Who orchestrated these great events and ordains all things? Praise our God and Father who cares for His children through the Holy Writ.

Instead of limiting His love to a chosen nation, the Father shows no partiality but gave His Son to all.  Do not live without the fear of God but live in a way that encourages righteousness in your land.  This way, the truth of Jesus Christ can spread through all nations instead of stalling His witness.  No other reason besides the deliverance of saving grace could prompt the Savior to be baptized as a man and deliver freedom to all with His power on the cross.  Instead of being silent, this revelation gave witness to Jews and Gentiles alike, those chosen by God.  He intrusts preaching, commands it, to sinful humans who He fills with His Holy Spirit, not just using His own might, revelation and creation.  Through His name alone, all come to receive that which Jesus does not hide away but gives freely to all - salvation.    

 

Psalm 139 (part 1)

Hello, readers!

    To me, Psalm 139 is one of the most beautiful passages ever written.  It exhibits truth and beauty by exposing the reality in my own life and God's omniscient relationship with me.

Verses 1 through 6:

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
² You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
³ You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
⁵ You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.

God can know every party of us and He doesn't just sit there with that ability.  The writer of the Psalms shows that God uses this aspect of His nature in two ways: He searches us and protects us.  The radical knowledge that God is Immanuel, God with us, can shape our lives through peace, security and power if we acknowledge the truth - far be it from simple though.  Praise God that He has come down to earth to save us and to give us His Spirit so that we may believe these "too wonderful" things. 

Love,
Sarah

"The Utimate"

Here's a beautiful blog post on idols entitled The Ultimate, written by the ladies at A Girl Like Me.

http://agirlikeme.com/2013/02/01/the-ultimate/

Enjoy (: