Tuesday, July 13, 2010

born blind for His glory

Day after day, he sat in the open square, blind, begging for a handout. Something to ease his growling stomach. Something to offset the cultural rejection.

Then the unknown voice of a Man spoke to him.

Really spoke.

Like He actually saw him sitting on that dusty ground. Like His intent was not to simply step over his tired legs while dropping a few coins in his jar.

He stooped down to where he was.

The Man's rough, carpenter hands anointed the crippled eyes with clay and instructed him to go wash in the nearby waters. A poor beggar cast aside by the multitude obeyed by faith.

As the water dripped from his squinted eyes, sunlight and color and life overwhelmed his senses. And he rejoiced. He danced.

Those in power did not approve. Their pride led the way. And they questioned the Man's methods... and origin...and substance.

The blind-man-now-healed replied to their banter, "This is all I know: I once was blind but now I see."

Sight restored by faith for the glory of God.


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(See John 9 for the scriptural account.)

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It's Tuesday. Linking up with Emily over at "Chatting at the Sky." Thankful for the gift of His Word.


tuesdays unwrapped at cats

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Monday, July 12, 2010

sowing seeds

"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy." (Psalm 126:5) A promise.

I am in the midst of a summer Bible study by Kelly Minter on the life of Ruth. In recent pages, she had the reader meditate on this verse--this promise--from Psalm 126. And it begs the question, "Into what am I sowing?"

Sowing and reaping is a continual, reliable phenomenon in this life. What we sow we will reap. That's how God designed it.

If I sow tomato seeds I will reap tomatoes--hopefully. And even if my brown thumb hinders their growth, one thing is certain, I won't reap green beans. What we sow we will reap.

Personally I will tell you that I am sowing into my family. Sowing seeds of love and seeds of truth, asking for God's grace to knit them into the individual hearts of my kids and my man. For the glory due His name.

And I am sowing into this calling that God placed upon my life years ago. A calling to shout on the rooftops--or on Twitter--what He speaks to me in the closet that His Spirit might be stirred within His children. For the glory due His name.

There will be seasons of weeping in this unpredictable life. Seasons where the fruit cannot be seen and the labor seems futile. But the promise remains. Keep sowing, even through the tears, and trust the Maker of heaven and earth to bring forth the harvest.

So I leave you with the question I asked myself, "Into what are you sowing?"

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Friday, July 9, 2010

obsession

I want to always be obsessed. I know it makes one a little weird in the face of modern culture. But I want to always be obsessed with knowing this remarkably, undefinable God.

The book Crazy Love by Francis Chan has caught my attention. (Yes, I believe I am one of the last ones to read it.) Though I bought it months back, I finally found a few quiet moments this week to dive into its pages.

In between building sand castles, jumping waves, and avoiding the thoughts of underwater life inches from our legs, I sat under the shade of my favorite hat with my toes in the sand, craving to see more of my Creator. (Glorious, by the way.)

Today I reached the chapter entitled "Profile of the Obsessed." Wow. The thoughts it spurred within truly lifted my soul. Thoughts of the One worthy of my obsession.

I won't bore you with my own rendition or paraphrase. But I will leave you with two characteristics of the obsessed as noted by Chan that fanned the flame of my spirit towards my Lord:
  • Obsessed people love those who hate them and can never love them back. (p. 132)
  • Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress. (p. 133)

The word holds strong connotation, but are you obsessed with your Maker? Nothing else is worthy of our excessive preoccupation. Nothing.



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