Going back (borrowed)

I borrowed this passage from Jon Acuff's latest blog, because we all need to be reminded of this... read the post in its entirety here.

I’ve talked about this idea before, but it felt right today because we are on the precipice of a new season of perfect. It’s December 29. In less than 72 hours, we’ll have a chance to make a fresh start in a fresh year. The calendar will declare a do over, a new day in a new month and a new decade to live better and be better and try harder.

I know I can’t be perfect. Past failures have made that crystal clear, but I still try sometimes. I still try to hold my breath and white knuckle my way back into the father’s arms. Creating lists, manically measuring my quiet times, doing the yo-yo diet version of faith. I don’t want to fail. I want to be perfect.

I want to free myself from the mess, clean my act up and string together a good solid month, of good solid living before I return to the God. But I’m not sure that is how God sees my life. In Psalm 103: 3-4, God is described as he “who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with compassion.”

The word I love in that passage is “from.” On the surface it’s a transition word, but the reality is that “from” represents the difference between man and God. In the world, when you fall into a pit, you’re expected to get back out. You dug it yourself, you climb out of it yourself. Get yourself together. Straighten up. Don’t bring me a problem, bring me a solution. In every job you’ve ever had and most of the relationships you’ve been in, this verse would read, “who redeems your lifeafter the pit.”

But in God’s world, He comes to the pit. He redeems us from the pit. Not once we’ve managed to get out of it, but from the middle of it. From the deepest part of the pit. He gets down with us in the pit and rescues us from it. Not after it.

I've noticed...

When I am apart from or out of touch with helpful and important people in my life for too long... a day, it seems... I lose accountability and make bad decisions.
Christians are typically more judgmental than non-Christians, and often have ulterior or self-serving motives behind their actions.
The power of forgiveness, grace and mercy is incredible, and I take it for granted.
Wetas truly are the most creepy insects to inhabit this country. I really cannot stand them.
I am sunburnt and it hurts.
Summer really is the best season of them all. People are happier and want to hang out more, and the world just seems so much brighter.
It's nearly 1am and I should be sleeping...

A Social Network Christmas.

Extreme Makeover

I love to watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. There are a few things I don't like about it, but on the whole, it's an enjoyable, and often emotional watch. One thing in particular I just don't understand about this show and others like it though, is the glorification of armed forces members. I know it's an American cultural thing or whatever, but seriously, it just seems a bit ridiculous to me. I'm not an advocate of war, so I guess that has something to do with it, but I understand they often do good things for people. What I don't get is how people think that the armed forces are fighting for the freedom of their country. Hello, they're fighting wars in other countries. Killing random foreigners is not making your country any more free. Maybe their intentions are right, they join up to help people, and that's all well and good, but seriously, does it make them a hero when they go to some other country and get injured in a war that really doesn't have anything to do with them or their country? I'm just not sure about it. Members of armed forces seem to be elevated above those with other professions, while there are people doing much more to aid the peace effort, fight for the rights of the underprivileged and work for freedom and equality in their local communities and all over the world.
I love that New Zealand's airforce has become a huge joke containing, I think, one hercules plane now! I also love that there is no huge emphasis or big deal placed on joining the army or anything here. The only time I really see this kind of glorification of armed forces here in NZ is on ANZAC Day where the soldiers who fought in the world wars are remembered and honoured for "serving our country". Once again, I'm not too sure how our country was served, but there were at least positive goals of taking out evil leaders and regimes in other parts of the world.
This post is really badly written, sorry. It all just got typed as it came out of my brain.
Meanwhile, mmm, I can smell my fruit and seed bread that is almost finished baking!

I know

“I know, my son, I know. I know, my daughter, I know. That thing you wanted is not going to happen. Not the way you’ve always dreamed. I know this hurts. I know this stings. I know you feel like I am distant or not aware of where you are and who hurt you and what you think life was supposed to be like. I know in moments like this you doubt that I can count the hairs on your head or have your best in mind. But please, I am not done. I have barely started to reveal your life to you. I am the God who satisfies your desires with good things. That is me! And when it comes to your hopes and your fears and your dreams, I know, my son, I know.”


Just something random that I read and meant something to me... read full post or check out others from Stuff Christians Like, here.


And then from another blog I just read... a very cool quote... "When we think too much about the opinions of others, we are letting them edit a book God has written." - Donald Miller.