I had an "ah hah!" moment today. Allow me to share. I have recently pondered the meaning of the words love, complement, and commitment. I have observed relationships and even been interested in a few fellows. I always thought that having a lot of similarities was a good thing. We could relate and have shared interests. There was less room for conflict. Life could be good. Yet, one needs a complement for we are not perfect. I looked up complement on the web and discovered an eye opening definition on wikepedia. "In many different fields, the complement of X is something that together with X makes a complete whole, something that supplies what X lacks." Ah hah! Differences are good and good communication makes those differences better because one can work through the differences. Maybe it is not eye opening to you, but it helps me bring things into perspective.
Another thought came to mind in regards to love. Love is an action not a feeling. I have heard this before, but maybe it is both. One needs to feel an interest to act out the love. One needs an interest to make the commitment to love. Emotions may come and go, but the choice to act in love can remain. Happiness or interest should not be the biggest indication of love. I shall continue to ponder.
I stumbled across a quote from my pastor - "It's not what I do that determines who I am. It's who I am that determines what I do." - Keith Devine. It is good to be reminded to focus on my being rather than my actions. My being, my relationship with God, and my relationship with others are very important. Everything else should follow. I sense some more time of stretching and growth ahead. I say - bring it on!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
"Have You Not God?"
This quote I read today in Andrew Murray's book Waiting on God. The words speak to me today. First, I want to copy a few paragraphs and allow the passage to speak to you before I share more thoughts.
"I do not know if it will be possible for me to put into a few words the chief things we need to learn. But, what I want to say is this: The great lack of our faith is that we do not know God. The answer to every complaint of feebleness and failure, the message to every congregation or convention seeking instruction on holiness, ought to simply be, What is the matter: Have you not God? If you really believe in God, He will make everything all right. God is willing and able by His Holy Spirit. Cease from expecting the least good from yourself, or at least help from anything there is in man. Just yield yourself unreservedly to God to work in you. He will do all for you" (Forward).
"God cannot part with His grace or goodness or strength as an external thing that He gives us, as He gives the raindrops from heaven. No, He can only give it, and we can only enjoy it, as He works it Himself directly and unceasingly. And, the only reason that He does not work it more effectually and continuously is that we do not let Him. We hinder Him either by our indifference or by our self-effort, so that He cannot do what he wants to do.
"What He asks of us, in the way of surrender, obedience, desire, and trust, is all comprised in this one word: waiting on Him, waiting for His salvation. It combines the deep sense of our entire helplessness and our perfect confidence that our God will work all in His divine power" (Chapter 2).
Pretty amazing! How often I need to be reminded of the necessity of surrender. I met with a professor at school about graduate schools today. I realized through his questions how unprepared I am for graduate school. I have no specific area of interest in philosophy, no favorite philosophers, an average academic record, no published papers, few research papers, and little time before application deadlines. I sense God pushing the pause button or closing the door while revealing the open window. The door closing - pursuing a graduate degree in philosophy. The window - studying at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Why have I studied philosophy, theology, and worldview overseas? Why has God used a professor at the seminary to teach me truths and inspire me to pursue teaching in philosophy? There is no writing sample necessary to apply to the seminary. There is a later deadline for the application. Another option is to work and study philosophy on my own while familiarizing myself with publications in which to publish.
I believe God also reminded me about a visit I had at the seminary. That week God was revealing around every corner the need for me to die to self so that Christ may live. Once again I have taken hold of the reigns and am using my strength to get ahead in life. I know where that will lead me - down an anxiety filled path. I believe that I need to deal with the consequences of past desicions in my schooling and press on while waiting on God.
"I do not know if it will be possible for me to put into a few words the chief things we need to learn. But, what I want to say is this: The great lack of our faith is that we do not know God. The answer to every complaint of feebleness and failure, the message to every congregation or convention seeking instruction on holiness, ought to simply be, What is the matter: Have you not God? If you really believe in God, He will make everything all right. God is willing and able by His Holy Spirit. Cease from expecting the least good from yourself, or at least help from anything there is in man. Just yield yourself unreservedly to God to work in you. He will do all for you" (Forward).
"God cannot part with His grace or goodness or strength as an external thing that He gives us, as He gives the raindrops from heaven. No, He can only give it, and we can only enjoy it, as He works it Himself directly and unceasingly. And, the only reason that He does not work it more effectually and continuously is that we do not let Him. We hinder Him either by our indifference or by our self-effort, so that He cannot do what he wants to do.
"What He asks of us, in the way of surrender, obedience, desire, and trust, is all comprised in this one word: waiting on Him, waiting for His salvation. It combines the deep sense of our entire helplessness and our perfect confidence that our God will work all in His divine power" (Chapter 2).
Pretty amazing! How often I need to be reminded of the necessity of surrender. I met with a professor at school about graduate schools today. I realized through his questions how unprepared I am for graduate school. I have no specific area of interest in philosophy, no favorite philosophers, an average academic record, no published papers, few research papers, and little time before application deadlines. I sense God pushing the pause button or closing the door while revealing the open window. The door closing - pursuing a graduate degree in philosophy. The window - studying at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Why have I studied philosophy, theology, and worldview overseas? Why has God used a professor at the seminary to teach me truths and inspire me to pursue teaching in philosophy? There is no writing sample necessary to apply to the seminary. There is a later deadline for the application. Another option is to work and study philosophy on my own while familiarizing myself with publications in which to publish.
I believe God also reminded me about a visit I had at the seminary. That week God was revealing around every corner the need for me to die to self so that Christ may live. Once again I have taken hold of the reigns and am using my strength to get ahead in life. I know where that will lead me - down an anxiety filled path. I believe that I need to deal with the consequences of past desicions in my schooling and press on while waiting on God.
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