In Philippians 4:8 it says, "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."
If we are to do this, mustn't we know where to find such things to think upon?
If God is all of those things, and He reveals Himself to us through His Word and through Jesus, then perhaps those are the places to begin.
Sometimes I wonder if Christians know how serious it is to control what we think, myself included. God doesn't just want purity of body, but of mind and soul. We laugh at dirty jokes, watch movies with too much nudity and violence, and swear without a thought. We must take reign over thoughts. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to "take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ."
God cares about what we think. He knows how important it is for us to control our thinking. We become what we think about.
07 February 2011
06 February 2011
The beginning of a more mature reconciliation of my younger rants of hatred toward God's apathy to us, to me.
There is something horrid, twisted, and corrupt in this life. There is something truly evil. It penetrates the sanctity of every life. There are things most will never speak of. Unthinkable horrors and injustices. There are rapes, murders, torture, genocides, suicides, beatings, drug use... It is endless.
Contrary to this, there are beautiful things. Truly, utterly, breathtakingly beautiful things. These things splash into our lives in sometimes the most unnoticed ways. There are sunrises, the birth of a child, tender kisses, gentle rain, smiles, nature... It, too, is endless.
How can such horror have such a reciprocal as beauty? How can the two coexist in the same earth?
This is how I believe it to be:
There was God in the beginning. He has a place called Heaven. There was an angel named Lucifer. He became greedy for the power God possessed. He wanted to be more than he was. He demanded God give him more. Eventually, God cast Lucifer out. Now evil had begun. Then God made the earth and all we see before us; the beauty in it all. Lucifer came. He hated God and what He had made and loved. He unleashed his evil into the world.
God didn't put evil into this world. He sought to make what was pure and righteous and holy and just; however, the evil one is jealous of what God created. He wants the devotion for himself.
The horrible things in this world are horrid distractions to keep us from the true beauty we could behold. In the midst of your horror and terror, no matter how unimaginable, seek Truth and true Beauty. Seek out restoration and healing and hope. This sounds so impossible to do, I know, but if you hurt so much, what have you to lose? Nothing. What have you to gain? Everything. It's worth a shot.
Contrary to this, there are beautiful things. Truly, utterly, breathtakingly beautiful things. These things splash into our lives in sometimes the most unnoticed ways. There are sunrises, the birth of a child, tender kisses, gentle rain, smiles, nature... It, too, is endless.
How can such horror have such a reciprocal as beauty? How can the two coexist in the same earth?
This is how I believe it to be:
There was God in the beginning. He has a place called Heaven. There was an angel named Lucifer. He became greedy for the power God possessed. He wanted to be more than he was. He demanded God give him more. Eventually, God cast Lucifer out. Now evil had begun. Then God made the earth and all we see before us; the beauty in it all. Lucifer came. He hated God and what He had made and loved. He unleashed his evil into the world.
God didn't put evil into this world. He sought to make what was pure and righteous and holy and just; however, the evil one is jealous of what God created. He wants the devotion for himself.
The horrible things in this world are horrid distractions to keep us from the true beauty we could behold. In the midst of your horror and terror, no matter how unimaginable, seek Truth and true Beauty. Seek out restoration and healing and hope. This sounds so impossible to do, I know, but if you hurt so much, what have you to lose? Nothing. What have you to gain? Everything. It's worth a shot.
03 February 2011
Psalm of my Heart
Oh God, Abba.
Why do I do it???
Why do I run from You so??
My whole self cries out to You!
It's Your forgiveness I seek.
I'm so sorry.
"Was it all worth it?"
I ask myself.
To no avail. The answer
Is a deafening and resounding "No!"
Please! God of mercy and love.
Please forgive me for nailing Your Son to the cross.
I know not what I do.
I am weak in my flesh.
Make me strong in You.
Father. There is no other hope, but You.
Without You, my life has no purpose.
I'm so sorry.
My soul cries out to You.
Forgive me, relieve me, please come back to my life.
Why do I do it???
Why do I run from You so??
My whole self cries out to You!
It's Your forgiveness I seek.
I'm so sorry.
"Was it all worth it?"
I ask myself.
To no avail. The answer
Is a deafening and resounding "No!"
Please! God of mercy and love.
Please forgive me for nailing Your Son to the cross.
I know not what I do.
I am weak in my flesh.
Make me strong in You.
Father. There is no other hope, but You.
Without You, my life has no purpose.
I'm so sorry.
My soul cries out to You.
Forgive me, relieve me, please come back to my life.
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