God Stuff

In chapel this week, the speaker challenged us to read through the first thirty Psalms and write down everything that they say about God. After the Psalms, he told us to go through John and then Ephesians. The idea is to get a better understanding of how great and awesome our God is. The speaker's point was that a lot of times we fret about a lot of stuff. However, we are told not to fret in Psalm 37. Fretting really stands in the way of delighting in God. By going through the Psalms, John, and Ephesians, we can really see that God is so so so much bigger than we can ever imagine. And because He is so much bigger, He is also so much 'wonderfuller' and better than anything. He has us in His hands. Thank God.

Here are just a few of the attributes of God that I found in Psalms:

Sustainer
Deliverer
Joy-giver
Righteous
Trustworthy
Does not take pleasure in evil
Merciful
Unfailing Love
Ruler
Shield
Praiseworthy
Majestic
Refuge
Salvation
Helper
Just
Protector
Flawless
Good
Satisfier
Rock
Fortress
Powerful
Faithful
Light
Perfect
Living
Exalted
Unfailing kindness
More precious than gold
Redeemer
Holy
King
Life-giver
Enthroned
Answers prayer
Shepherd
Guide

...

To name a few...

what an amazing God we serve!

Thanksgiving

Here are some things I'm thankful for. (And I really mean them)

My Almighty, Indescribable God
My amazing, loving Family
My incredible friends
The Bible
Green grass
Fall
Hot coffee
Rainy days
Soap
Sweet Pea
Cheese cake
Fast internet
Christmas
My birthday :-)
Poetry
My journal
the Ability to read
Purple pens
Cats
Flowers
MUSIC
The color blue
C. S. Lewis
Joy :-)


And a thousand other things....

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Epiphany

So I had an epiphany the other day. I was reading this book called "A Severe Mercy" by Sheldon Vanauken. In it, he talks about how he was standing by his old house, looking back over his life and contemplating all the people that have died: his wife, his parents, his pets, maybe some of his friends. He is looking back at them, though, with a bittersweet reflection. He is not looking back with anger and bitterness and regret.
I realized then that if I'm not joyful now, I won't ever be. Right now, if I was standing in that guy's place, I would have been angry. I would have been upset and seen my life as multiple blessings that were denied from me, instead of beautiful blessings that have been fulfilled. I would see the people that have passed as greater than God's perfect plan. I would have expected to be blessed on my terms, not on God's. I would have demanded a life without pain. However, a life without pain is also a life without joy.
I then realized that if my joy is not complete in Christ now, my joy will never be complete. If I'm always looking ahead to what I want, I will never be fulfilled. Then, when things dear to me in life are taken, I will inevitably be upset and angry, instead of thankful for something that I never deserved in the first place. My prayer is that I would learn Christ's joy now, so that it will permeate every aspect of my life. That way, I will be thankful and happy for what He blesses me with, and I will still be thankful and joyful for what He has decided to take away in His time. I will not be tossed by life, but I can rest in Christ's perfect love.