5.27.2011

fully known and completely adored



my heart is overwhelmed today
the unchanging love of my sweet saviour
is too much to bear.

though I cannot comprehend it
I am
at the same time
fully known
and
completely adored
by the maker and sustainer
of everything that
is.

he created every fiber of my being
knit me together in my mother’s womb
breathed life into my lungs
and named me
his.

and oh, how the Artist loves his masterpiece.
Beauty himself calls me lovely.

and he is always with me
he sees my every move
my every thought
... even the unfaithful thoughts
and the ways I betray him.
and yet his love is immovable;
he rejoices over me with singing
and commands his angels
to bend down and listen
as I worship him.

all of my days are known by him
no trial I encounter surprises him.
I trust in the God who is able to shield me from all things
and the God who sometimes chooses not to.
I praise him in joy and in pain
because his perfect will
and his good leadership
are not defined by my circumstances.

he promises to work all things together for my good
and restore all that has been broken and lost
he set(s) me free from captivity
even from the chains that I often willingly carry.
he is the redeemer of my past
fills my todays with adventure
and gives me hope for the future.

and my God keeps his promises.

I cannot wrap my small mind around it.
I will never understand it.
but my heart recognizes it as the whole truth.

everything that I am aches
to see him in his glory
I am altogether undone and overcome
you take my breath away

and you respond
you calm my restless heart
with a peace that surpasses all understanding.

for this too shall pass
he will come for me
and on that glorious day
we will be one
I will be in your presence
and we will walk together in the cool of the day
as you always intended for us
heart and soul complete at last

my beloved is mine
and I am his

5.03.2011

Just a thought...


May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 1 Samuel 24:12

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; or the LORD will see it and be displeased, and turn His anger away from him. Proverbs 24:17-18


For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us. Isaiah 33:22

But you, LORD Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause. Jeremiah 11:20

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is MINE, I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:19

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:38-48

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The Lord is judge, not us. Period. Revenge is not ours to seek out. Judgement belongs to God. I have a hard time dishing out comments like "He got what he deserved" when I think about the fact that I too am a sinner and deserve death just as much as Bin Laden. Romans says that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 

I cannot justify the things Bin Laden did. (Just like I can't justify the things I have done.) And I am not diminishing the pain he has caused so many. (I cannot justify the pain I have caused either.) His sin does not make it ok for us to be jumping around and dancing in the streets, ecstatic because he died. Was Osama Bin Laden not made wonderfully and fearfully (Psalm 139) and in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) just like you and I? Did Christ not die for all people, including Bin Laden?

I believe that the Lord grieves with the families of those whose lives have been taken directly and indirectly by Bin Laden and the lives of soldiers who have given their lives to defend our country in the decade since the 9/11 attacks.

I also believe that he grieves the loss of a son that he does not get to spend eternity with.