I'm a piece of His glory.

One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:30, but I can never seem to remember it. I think I have too many favorites. It says, "And having chosen them, he called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory."

I love the progression of that. How he hand-picked us. Then He called to us, drew us to Himself through His incredible love and compassion. Before we even embraced Him, He gave us the gift of righteousness- being able to appear sinless, pure, right, in His presence and before His throne. And then comes the most mysterious and exciting part of all...

His glory.

A few verses up, Paul talks about how all of creation, against its will, was subjected to God's curse and God's absence, but it groans and eagerly awaits this glory that will come again. "But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay."

Glory. Freedom. No more death. No more decay. (aka, WONDERFUL!)

I often find my mind, which has become one of my biggest annoyances, in total and complete conflict with my spirit (which is in harmony with God's Spirit, which is all Truth). I have people in my life that enjoy arguing about the formation of my faith, like God's Word-- how the Catholic priests put it together and left such and such books out, and how we don't know what Jesus did for most of his life because he's 12 and then in the next chapter he's 30.
Some people find those facts too important and refuse to read and believe something that has gaps and mysteries like this. Or they make up their own theories.
You wanna know what I think?
I think they are idiots. But more than that, I am urged to love and care for them because they have forgotten that this whole thing is about the mystery. It's all about the Mystery that we will never be able to fully comprehend.

This is true beauty, my dear friend. Being caught up in something so wonderful and mind-boggling that you finally come to the conclusion to just run with it and enjoy every sweet moment. I am so blown away by the thought of God. I am so consumed with this never-ending, mind-surpassing, grace-abounding, love-unfailing, passion-igniting, purpose-giving God. Wow. He's so great.

Can I just say one more thing? Someone once told me that the hope I talk about is a false reality, that my life is like a bubble. Bubbles are pretty cool, come to think of it. How does that liquid capture air like that? And why are they so colorful, always changing in the light? How is it possible that once you form a bubble, you can chase it down and blow even more air in it, and then it becomes gargantuan, but it still won't pop unless it hits something? Bubbles are pretty mysterious. But that doesn't take away from the fun, does it?

:)

It's Like Fire in My Bones

I've always been intrigued by the analogies of fire used in scripture, so much so that I got a tattoo to remind me of it a couple years ago. It's so cool how it describes God's jealousy, power, and contagiousness. I finally finished the book, The Irresistible Revolution, and in the closing chapter Shane talks about this "fire" that we are called to. He says we are not to just be candles, because those can be blown out even by little kids on their birthdays, but that we are to be FIRE, a fierce and fast-spredding source of God's love, kindness, and scandalous grace.
Gaaaahhh, it's so good. But it's tough being that fire.

I've been overwelmed by all these thoughts on how I need to change my lifestyle- I need to recycle everything I throw away, and I need to make sure I go to visit the poor on a regular basis and I need to do this, and this, and this! Phew, it's exhausting. But I was reminded: we can only do small things with great love. I will start paying more attention to the little every day things and ask Him how I can show His great love in those things. And I will hopefully be able to fit in all those other things I want to do :)

Overall this book has shoved me into a new reality and a new responsibility. Well, I guess I've always had the responsibility but I've never been so aware of it. God's Word is our ultimate Light, but I think I've been reading it with so many blinders, and I haven't let it truly affect me in the way that it should. Many things have changed in my mind because of stories I read and the people who are hurt because of our wars and our consumerism and our greed. Ugh, it disgusts me and at the same time breaks my heart so much that I feel like ripping it out would be better than absorbing all of the pain from this world. However, I never lose hope in the way things should be and will be one day.


I just pray that I will have the courage and the boldness to continue to spend my life so that others may have, to use my voice so that all may hear about truth and redemption, and to keep following close behind my Jesus and Lord who leads me and guides me into the richest life possible here on earth.



May we live in His freedom, but never ignore His tears.