The election

I have (mostly) stayed away from talking politics. I'm just not one who really gets caught up in political things that much. Now, I know some of you have strong opinions about our need to be incredibly active in government, and I respect that. On the other hand, I know there are some of you out there who are right with me, or even farther down the line in caring about politics. Whatever your stance, I thought I would share the following link to a blog from Piper on voting. Here's a little excerpt from the blog:

"Voting is like marrying and crying and laughing and buying. We should do it, but only as if we were not doing it. That’s because “the present form of this world is passing away” and, in God’s eyes, “the time has grown very short.” Here’s the way Paul puts it:

"The appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

Let’s take these one at a time and compare them to voting..."

"So it is with voting. We deal with the system. We deal with the news. We deal with the candidates. We deal with the issues. But we deal with it all as if not dealing with it. It does not have our fullest attention. It is not the great thing in our lives. Christ is. And Christ will be ruling over his people with perfect supremacy no matter who is elected and no matter what government stands or falls. So we vote as though not voting."

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2008/3347/

Big bruiser

No need for words...

Still

I have a dear friend whose family is currently facing a hard, painful situation. I have had the honor of knowing her for the past few years. She has been nothing but an enormous blessing to not only me, but many around her. Since I've been back from Prague, she has been even more of an inspiration to me. The way her and her husband have been walking through this challenging time has been nothing short of amazing. They have clung to God tighter than I've ever witnessed, and have seen God move in ways that words could never do justice.

I was listening to the song "Still" months ago on one of my runs, and literally stopped and cried for my friend. They were the exact words I prayed for them then, and have continued to pray for them since. I see them constantly returning to His quietness and power. I see it in their faces, read in their emails, and hear it in their voices. Their souls truly do find rest in Christ alone.

God, thank you for providing people like Susan and Sila in my life. Lord, that they will continue to find rest in You alone. Remind them daily, hourly of your boundless love and care for them.


Still
"Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust"

Inspiring

"One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher."

I was recently incredibly moved by this familiar passage out of Luke. The redemptive story of someone who was broken, condemned, battered down, criticized, and lonely. I admire her courage and ability to rise above those who judged and looked down upon her. She came to the end of herself, and found Jesus. She didn't care about the mountains of whispers, looks, and judgements that would await her when she walked through those doors. Her need for healing, love, and grace were so powerful, NOTHING could keep her away.

Outwardly it was easy to see this women needed Jesus. It was Simon and the Pharisees that found it impossible to realize the fact that they needed Jesus just as badly as this precious woman did. I pray I would realize more and more how desperate I need the same healing, love, and grace this prostitute did.

"Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'"