The Glory of God

Piecing together things I read today:

1. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9-10
2. From the biography of Ann Judson (Adoniram Judson's wife): "Ann and Adoniram had no sense of God 'needing' them; in a real sense they believed that what happened to them was of secondary importance. A sovereign God could use them as long as he wanted but then raise up others in their place. Their religion was God-centered, not man-centered... By faith, through many long years of discouragement, they endured, as seeing Him who is invisible; relying not at all on what they could do, but wholly on what God had promised to do for them."
3. "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The chief end of God is to glorify God and enjoy himself forever." -John Piper, "Let the Nations be Glad"

God has called me into Himself. He has set me apart as his royal priest. I believe this so wholeheartedly that this morning I donned my best priestly purple shirt symbolically stating that I am a people belonging to God. I was thinking of the office of priest, one who labors for God, who sacrifices and intercedes for people. I feel God's pleasure in intercession, but I think there is more to it. I know God has called me to be his royal priest, But why? For what purpose? 

God has set me apart that I might declared the praises of him who called me out of darkness into his wonderful light. He has set me apart so that my religion might be God-centered, not man-centered. My suffering, my health, my joy, my disappoint, my strength, my weakness all exist to bring him glory. While I benefit from his calling and his promises, the ultimate purpose is so that I might join him in his work of making his name great. He is my God and I will serve Him. If the heavens declare his glory, so must I. He is greatly to be praised!!!

disappointment

Today I am struggling with disappointment. It's nothing major. Simply something I hoped to happened, didn't. So I wonder where is God in disappointment. Then I think, well He must be there for throughout Scripture people were disappointed. In fact, God seems to initiate it. Leah was disappointed she didn't have her husband's love, Rachel she didn't have her husband's children. Job was disappointed that in his greatest pain God was so long silent. Samuel was disappointed that Israel wanted a king like the other nations. I'm sure Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego were disappointed when they take their stand, don't bow down, and hear the news they are still getting thrown in the fiery furnace. And then the greatest disappointment of all... the disciples. The man they had dedicated the last three years of their lives, the One they thought would change everything, the One they loved, died. For three days, He left them the most disappointed anyone could ever be. All their hopes were shattered, all their dreams destroyed.

In light of all these, my tee-tiny disappoint today seems like nothing. Yet I feel it, I don't want to diminish it, but I do wonder what God wants me to do with it? Here is how the Lord answered me.... Call to me, Come to me, throw your burden on me. Your disappointment, no matter what size, has a purpose. It is a catalyst to intimacy. I want to be what you put your hope in. I might restore your hope in what disappointed you, I might not. But your disappointment, bring to me, now. Let's grieve it together.

PS. Rachel got her kids, Leah never got her love (though she was later satisfied). Job got his answer. Samuel got God's reassurance that they hadn't rejected him but God. Rack, Shack and Benny got delivered. And the disciples, well they got to see the risen Lord! God can restore what was lost.

Three weeks

I realized a few nights ago that it has been three weeks since I last blogged. Many reasons come to the surface. Mostly, it has been a hard three weeks. In this time period, I have struggled and fallen. I lived in open rebellion going back to old sins that I had once seen victory over. I struggled with energy and sleeplessness. I struggled with the hardest confrontation to date at work. I struggled with irritability and weariness. With all this spiritual and emotional upheaval, it is evident why taking time to type out my thoughts was not high on the priority list.

This blog has been a creative outlet for me. It has been therapeutic and worshipful. And so the other day on a walk around my neighborhood the thought came "I haven't blogged in a while." I was heartbroken. Creativity is the first to go when our focus is off of Jesus. So in the last three weeks, I have not been focused on Jesus. Like Peter I got distracted by the winds and the waves and started sinking.

As these thoughts came in, so did an awareness of something else. It started when my senses were assailed by a giant vine of honeysuckle. It was huge, growing unchecked up and around four trees in the parking lot. The smell was intoxicating and a taste of heaven. Then I noticed a single magnolia blossom on a large tree a little down the road. A smile crept from my heart to my face. I felt as if Jesus was walking beside me pointing things out, asking me to drink it all in, deeply. He gave me a spark of life that I had not been expecting.

He also gave me a message, one that I want to share on here, but something deep within makes me want to keep it a secret between me and my Creator. I can tell you this, though, He is faithful and He is close. I feel Him calling me to fix my eyes on Him, to run hard after Him, to seek intimacy and closeness. This is spiritual meat: to know Him in a new way... constantly going to a deeper level. So on my walk: I took a stand against my besetting sin, for I have been declared more than a conqueror, and I took hold of Jesus. I will have to do this again I am sure. But that doesn't take away from the beauty of doing it right now. I belong to the Lord. He holds my hands, looks straight into my eyes, and is content to know me and be known by me.

What a Wonderful Savior!