Oct 26, 2007

Suffering....just for a little while

Biblical Hermeneutics...

In all reality, I'm a nerd. But NOT to the point where I love being about to take a passage from the bible...and disect it...in the library...with TONS of commentaries and concordances surrounding me. Apparently though, times have changed my friends. Last week I spent hours upon hours in the library doing research over 1 Peter. Now, part of the reason I was in there so long was because I didn't get the homework done ahead of time, but I also enjoyed it so much! There was so much amazingly encouraging things that came out of the study.

As I researched Peter and his personality in the text, I learned so much about how God uses people, even after they make just about the WORST choices. Here we have a man that wishes to please Jesus and do everything right. But then at the opportunity of actually taking that step to stand up for Him, he cowards down and basically says he has never even seen him.

The amazing thing that comes from this is the fact that he takes this experience and turns around completely! He goes from being a coward of a man, to one of the most influentual leaders in the book of Acts.

PRAISE GOD FOR FORGIVENESS!

No only was Peter renewed from forgiveness, but he was filled with the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promise the disciples. He promised that as he left them and went to prepare a place for them in heaven, he would leave his spirit with them so they would have Him with the at all times. So beautiful!

I'm not sure if this makes sense at all because it's a jumble of thoughts from the intense study I did. I'm just trying to sort all these thoughts out:-)

But I was reminded of this verse in 1 Peter.
"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

As I read over this verse many many times, I was taken back by this, "after you have suffered a little while..." Often I think, oh God will heal me if I ask him too, or he will take me out of this hard time right now. But really, just as it says right there in 1 Peter, he just might let me suffer for a bit. But he WILL come and restore me and make me even stronger than I was in the first place. I will leave you with these thoughts:-)
There's a group of people that just came to distract me in the caf. So I shall continue later:-)

Britt

Let me know if you have any thoughts!

Oct 21, 2007

Surely We Can Change

Last night as I was sitting in the audience of the David Crowder Concert I was overwelmed with an amazing joy. God has blessed my life in so many ways that I cannot understand.
Why have I been given such an amazing family that has been here for me from the moment I was born. I don't tell them how much I love them enough. Thank you Lord for my family.
Why have I been given such amazing friends that encourage me on a daily basis even when I don't deserve it? I don't tell them thank you enough for the blessing they bring to my life.
Why have I been given the ablity to sing? Someone once told me that you feel the most alive, the most joy, the most fullfilment when you are doing what God has called you to do. That's what I feel when I am worshipping the Lord. Thank you God for this gift. I pray that I will bless others with this for the rest of my life.
Why have I been given countless opportunities to make a little money so that I am able to live well. Why has my family been blessed so that we may live comfortably? Thank you Lord for this blessing from the day I was born. Thank you Dad for instilling these morals and standards for me so that I work hard for my money.

As I go on to thinking about the many different blessings I have in my life, I am reminded of the song Surely We Can Change, by David Crowder. I feel that I have been given these things so that I am able to bless others with it. I am able to bring the joy the Lord has given me, into others' lives. There is so much pain and suffering in this world.

Where there is pain
Let there be grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Help them be brave
Where there is misery
Bring expectancy
And surely we can change something
Surely we can change something

Where there is pain
Let US bring grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Let US be brave
Where there is misery
Let us bring the relief
And surely WE cna change
Surely WE can change something
(David Crowder; Surely We Can Change)

This was the prayer at the end of the concert the band sang. This whole year as they are on tour, they are collecting socks and towels from everyone that attends the concert and bringing them to homeless shelters. They told us a story of how two men from one of the shelters came to pick up the socks one night and broke down and cried at the site of all the gifts. They just couldn't understand why OTHERS wanted to help THEM. That's exactly why we are here! We may not be able to change the whole world. But we can change SOMETHING. There is so much going on in this world and there needs to be more and more joy and peace. I feel like today...I need to change something. I want to bring love like this into the world.

Not sure if this makes sense, just a few scattered thoughts from last night.
Have an amazing Sunday.

Surely, YOU can change SOMETHING in the lives of others that you come in contact with. Bring joy, bring peace, and love into others lives TODAY.

Surely WE can CHANGE something

Britt

David Crowder Concert Pictures: Seattle