“The gospel of grace is more drastic, more offensive, more liberating, more shocking, and more counterintuitive than any of us realize. There is nothing more radically unbalanced and drastically unsafe than grace. It has no “but”: it’s unconditional, uncontrollable, unpredictable, and undomesticated. It unsettles everything. There is a dangerous depth to the gospel that needs to be rediscovered and embraced.”
From http://theresurgence.com/2011/07/12/the-decline-of-the-nuclear-family
In the face of the confusion, hopelessness, and lack of any answers from our culture, one of the most radical things the church can call Christians to is back to God’s design for men and women. Men and women were created to cultivate and steward God’s creation—to rule over it as his representatives. But what is often underemphasized is that we were created to do that together. God made men and women in complementary ways to reflect his trinitarian nature, his covenantal love in marriage, and his authority and submission in the church. This ultimately points toward the unity that will exist when Jesus comes back for the bride he loves. All of this is his love towards us.
You’re the Northern Wind
Sending shivers down my spine
You’re like fallen leaves
In an autumn night
You’re the lullaby
Singing me to sleep
You are the other half
You’re like the missing piece
Oh my love
Oh my love
Oh my love
You don’t know
What you do to me
You are all four seasons
Rolled into one
You’re like the cold December snow
In the warm July sun
I’m the jet black sky
That’s just before the rain
Like the mighty current
Pulling you under the waves
Oh my love
Oh my love
Oh my love
You don’t know
What you do to me
I’m the darkest hour
Just before the dawn
I’m slowly sinking
Into the the slough of despond
Like an old guitar
Worn out and left behind
I have stories still to tell
Of the healing kind
Oh my love
Oh my love
Oh my love
If I could just find you tonight
If I could just find you tonight
Oh my love
this song is beautiful.
Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
The assurance of things hoped for… the conviction of things not seen
There was an overwhelming feeling that God was not as near as I know him to be Friday afternoon as I sat in Starbucks. But as soon as I read that first verse of Hebrews chapter eleven, it was as if he was whispering these very words in my ear. All I could do was joyfully laugh.
We have never seen Jesus, yet we seek Him. It is not known to audibly hear his voice, yet we talk to Him. Our hope is founded in Jesus, someone we have never seen or heard. This is faith. Jesus’s very words in John 20:29 are these: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 1 Peter 1:8-9 also tells us this: “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Blessed are those… rejoice with joy…
Isn’t it amazing that we, as Christians, are a part of those who receive a blessing for believing that Jesus was resurrected from the dead despite the fact that we have not seen his nail pierced scars? And in that, we are called to rejoice with joy.
Not only is it that by faith we believe that Jesus sacrificed his life to save many, but our lives are to be those acted out of faith that God is leading us in His way. The phrase “by faith” is said nineteen times in Hebrews 11. The stories of how Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites, Rahab and more acted by faith unto God are simply stated in this chapter. Events and situations with an unforeseen or doubtful outcome were walked through by faith. I encourage you to read this chapter to fully understand how it was that they moved by faith.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 Whatever season in life you are in, remember this. Remember that God is listening to those who have faith in Him. He did not call you to His own to leave you to do life on your own. He called you with a purpose—a purpose that your life would glorify His name. When we go out into this world that we live in, we must go out by faith remembering that we “walk by faith, not be sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 promises this: “[Jesus Christ] will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” No matter where it is that we go, we have the assurance that Jesus Christ will sustain those whom he has called. Not only are we to have faith in this, but Paul says in 1 Corinthians that God is faithful. He is faithful to fulfill all that he has promised—faithful to lead us into the salvation that He has gracefully given us through his Son.
This concept of faith seems so basic, but I believe that it is something that Christians need to be reminded of. I sometimes forget that God has perfectly planned out the season of life I am in. I forget that he hears whatever it is I say, and sees every thought I have. I forget that all things work together for good. I forget that I have no need to be anxious for anything as described in Matthew 6. So not only must I have faith that Jesus was sent to the cross for my sake, but I have faith that he is near to me every single moment of every single day.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
someday.
alyssa.
claremont. rancho cucamonga.
I want to get married in this dress. it’s what I’ve always imagined for myself. gorgeous.
love this
(via unemployment-agency)
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
jess and chris
