He Tore the Veil!!

Knowing something is not always really knowing it. Sometimes a truth I thought I knew strikes me again in a new way, "an aha moment", and then I think "oh I see now." Well, the more of them I have, the more I see there is to learn and understand.

Tonight I was musing on the actual pain of separation and distance between loved ones. It seems like I am always saying goodbye. So many of my loved ones are in so many different places in the world that I can't be with them all. And it makes me sad. Then I thought how at least we'd all be together in eternity and how that's what counts after all.

Wait a minute, we get to be together because of what Someone did for us. He endured the greatest separation of all. How truly painful!!!! The Father looking away from the Son. Perfect Love being severed. What a broken heart! Christ and God the Father demonstrate the greatest love, the greatest sacrifice that could ever be made. To be with the Father is supreme Joy and to be under his wrath, the worst humiliation. Christ's gift is so infinitely greater than we understand.

Jesus took all of our separation upon himself. And then he gives something new and wonderful in its place. he gives us ultimate community. Not only do we get to part of the Body of Christ, we get join in the very community of the Trinity. Jesus before he went on the cross prayed this very thing for us, that we might in Him and He in us even as the Father and the Son are one. His Spirit indwells our heart and brings us to Him and He will never let us go.

Our brokeness is being restored, our separation temporary. Knowing this gives me an excitement and a overflowing sense of being loved. This enables me to go on loving those around me, and those who are with me only in spirit. I am empty, he fills me up. He makes me whole!!

Perfect Everlasting Love

1 Peter has really gripped me lately, so I decided to share :)

1 Peter 1:17-25

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.The grass withers,and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And THIS word is the good news that was preached to you! ~ESV Study Bible

Isn't that just exciting? Just think: God who is outside of time, eternal and unchangeable, created us, and knows us. He has rescued us with the most precious of all things: the blood of the imperishable Christ who died for us. Because of this perfect love given to us, now we can truly love each other. Because we are born of the WORD everlasting!! He has given us the most perfect gift of all (Himself) and it will last forever!

A Living Book

Hi! :) I want to share a few Bible verses today. This Book is so amazing: it is the living Word of God that speaks to us every moment. Lately, I have noticed this afresh. Whenever I open it, I think, "Wow, this is as perfect for today as it was 2,000 years ago!" The Bible is the love story of salvation (all of it points to Christ), the Law, our guide to how to live, a dependable source of wisdom and of strength. It is the book that contains the most wisdom, tells the sweetest love story, the truest history, and the most amazing truth, is the most encouraging (to believers), the most necessary exhortation, and the best theology! It far surpasses any other book because it is the WORD of God. When we study it, we are in His presence in a special way.

Ezekiel 3:2

So I opened my mouth and he fed me this scroll, And he said to me, "Son of man, feed your stomach, and fill your body with this scroll I am giving you." Then I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. Then He said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them."

Matt. 6:47

Everyone who comes to me and hears My words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

Psalm119:129

Thy testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul observes them. The unfolding of thy words it gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Thy commandments.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then brethren, stand firm and hold to the tradition you were taught whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our father, who has loved and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work.

Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Here is a hymn that we sing in RUF (Reformed University Fellowship), that always serves to reminds me of the way that Christ cares for us. We can cling to him and in the darkest times the gospel becomes evermore precious to us. The song was written by George Matheson, a Scottish minister whose fiance left him when he was going blind, and his family was gone to celebrate his sister,his companion's, wedding. It is through trial that we find out just how deep and satisfying the Father's love is. The music for this hymn is quite beautiful, I urge you to look it up at Indelible Grace Music .com and listen to it.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

1. O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

2. O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

3. O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

4. O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

School Time

I am filled with anticipation, wondering and even doubt as I prepare to head back to college. You see, over the years I have changed my mind back and forth about whether I should go. So I didn't make any grand plans, but when God opened the door for me to be able to go last year, I walked through it. And He has continued to hold it open, providing with each thing, including money, that I need to go.

There aren't many colleges (a small few I am sure) like Belhaven. So small and personal, Christian worldview curriculum, a wonderful Christian art program, smart and caring professors, beautiful campus, and large homeschool percent of the student body. Belhaven is far from perfect but a chance to play tennis and learn the art skills from a rare gifted art instructor has been a treat.

So I am going back with no intention of quitting. I miss my family and even wonder if I should leave home. But my parents do want me to go if I can. College is not for everyone and girls especially should think twice before following the trend. In my case I am learning things that I could not have learned at home and the life experience has been valuable. I will continue to pray and follow God's leading one step at a time.

I think that God has a different path for each of us, but reading the Bible is the clearest way to understanding God's plan for us. The Bible doesn't say girls may not go to college. It does say what is expected from a Christ-honoring woman. A helpmeet to her husband, mother to her children, minister to the needy, teaching God's Word to younger women. This is not a career woman who pursues her own goals above others, although she may have a source of income. I hope that my college experiences, and especially my art classes, will make me a better woman and most importantly better able to fulfill the role Christ has for me to play down the road.