Encouraging one another, all the more
Silence. It is one of the most counter-cultural subjects of our time. If you do not know what I mean, I wish for one day, your ears could hear what mine do from start to finish. Sometimes silence is interrupted not just by actual noise, but also by the mundane.
When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” He answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things;” he replied, “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” (John 21:15-17, emphasis added)
If you asked me a few months ago how I was doing emotionally, I would have told you I was an emotional train wreck. I felt unseen, forgotten, and not needed by anyone, especially by God. Although part of me knew these irrational thoughts and feelings were far from God’s truth – it was much easier to believe them than it was to fight past them, run to God, and seek out his life-giving word. Instead of running to the cross, I gaven power to these irrational thoughts that had quickly spread like wildfire; leaving me feeling defeated, abandoned, and utterly alone. In other words, my emotions were running my life.
What defines confidence for everyone is so different. Is confidence being able to speak out about what you believe in? Or being able to keep quiet to really show that you’re not swayed by other people’s words. Is confidence the same thing as courage? What distinguishes those?
Did you know there is a faithless way to complain, and a faithful way to complain?
Now that it’s November, it’s finally culturally appropriate to get excited about Christmas!! In honor of that, let me kick off this blog with a reference from the classic Christmas movie Elf. When Buddy the Elf is in the department store and they announce that Santa is coming, Buddy SCREAMS and jumps up and down with hysterical excitement! (For your enjoyment, here’s the scene).
“The world values you going to the gym more than to the deepest places of your soul…” – Shauna Niequest, Cold Tangerines. This is a post about crying. Not a post about the crying of physical tears, but the crying of our souls.
We all grieve at one time or another. Sometimes we grieve because a friendship or significant other has left our lives. Sometimes we grieve because someone we knew or cared about has passed away. Lately, majority of the world has been grieving for our Country as we’ve seen and heard of gruesome attacks on the innocent lives of people. We don’t necessarily need to know these people personally to grieve for the hardship and loss that people experience.