Eat The Word

Kinda makes me happy.

(Source: curlyhairandaccents)

sethcain:

“The Christian faith is the most exciting drama that ever staggered the imagination of man—and the dogma is the drama …. this terrifying drama in which God is the victim and the hero. If this is dull, then what, in Heaven’s name, is worthy to be called exciting? The people who hanged Christ never, to do them justice, accused Him of being a bore—on the contrary; they thought Him too dynamic to be safe. It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround Him with an atmosphere of tedium. We have efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certifying Him “meek and mild,” and recommended Him as a fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies.”

-Dorothy Sayers, English crime writer, poet, playwright

Ernest Barr - Christian Heritage Church

Past all doing. Past all striving. Take me. Past all of me. Into you. Take me. Leaving all my piles. I did this. I missed that. Take me.
 Emptying my pockets. Nothing left to keep. Take me.


Take me with you, to be with you, where you’re going. Where you are. Take me.

No more trying to get it. I can’t think hard enough. I can’t beat my own heart, or stop it. Take me.

No more planning it out. No more controlling my life. Take me. Take me through your plan. Lead me from song to song. From fragrance to fragrance. From your love to your love. Take me.


Take me with you, to be with you, where you’re going. Where you are. Take me.

Growing up, I often felt alone. I was a peculiar kid with a funny imagination and a weird sense of humor. My family was broken with alcoholism and different kinds of abuse twisted my parent’s understanding of love. It was tough. Not the toughest, but it was tough.

On the hardest days it felt undeniably, inexplicably true that I would be alone without an advocate, without a true guardian, forever. I adopted the religion of buddhism when I was 16 as a reinforcement of those beliefs. Life was suffering. Life is an illusion. I would hope to one day freely float back into the misty force of life and finally forget all that plagued me.

This morning I’m pressing into some big life decisions mostly concerning work. I’m walking and praying and I am not alone. I’m praying and I’m startled to remember the stark truth that is sometimes accompanied by a feeling. He’s always with me. My faithful High Priest, making intercession for me. He leads by the hand, because he’s gentle, and because he’s given me need for a hand to hold. He breaks my stubborn spirit, so that the Liar will not bind my soul, so that I can hear his perfect voice. He sings the ancient song of a son and a father to my wanting ears and I am knit together, again, and continually, and once and for all.

I am not alone. You are with me. Give me ears to hear. Give me eyes to see. Lead me with your voice.

They Had Everything in Common

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts Chapter 4:32-37

Sara Hagerty of Every Bitter Thing is Sweet

http://everybitterthingissweet.com/2011/03/my-shepherd/

(via minismith)

Jon Thurlow (paraphrased)

Boredom is not a good reason to slam the hammer down on the nail. Weariness is not a good reason to slice open the Savior. Emptiness does not justify my anger.

Holy God fill me.

1  Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2  Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted awaythrough my groaning all day long.

4  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;my strength was dried upt as by the heat of summer. Selah

5  I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

6  Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

7  You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

/ref Psalm 32:6

I’m so encouraged by this passage. David shows me the path to freedom, the path to blessing and hope. He shows me that he’s a man like me, full of sin that needs clearing, burning away. He shows me that the yoke is light, and the burden is easy. I come before my God with nothing, shedding all that I thought was good, and all that I thought was so bad that I could not come before a holy, and wholly good God. With nothing, I have no cover to hide my rags.

“This is who I am”, I say to God. “I need you to clean me again, to help me, because I can’t do it myself. I’ve tried, and it never works, it never sticks”.

With kindness in his eyes, “I know who you are Matthew, I knit you. I named every cell in your body. I know your best, and I know where you’ve fallen short. I know when you’ve utterly blown it. I know you through and through. I made you to know where to come for love, and now your here. You’re at the right place. My love has made you clean, now go and be clean in my love.”

David’s understanding of what God can do to remove the stain of sin from his life, to be truly clean before God constantly amazes me. He may have foreseen the coming of Christ and his work, but he knew the power of the Father’s love before that story unfolded. How much more do I want to be confident in the Father’s love, his sending Jesus to me, his gift of the Spirit for me?!