Need a smile?

A few days ago in my Global Consumer Culture class we watched this video. At first I thought it was pretty weird, but then as it went on I was fascinated. My teacher was using it to illustrate how the internet enables us to be in contact with people all over the world. However, I was knocked off my feet once again by how big the world is. When I watch this video, I see the creativity of God in making so many kinds of people and places and cultures. I see people who need Jesus, and he has given us the beautiful task of sharing in his work of making his glory known in the ends of the earth!

Psalm 67

God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us—that thy way may be known on the earth, thy salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for thou wilt judge the peoples with uprightness, and guide the nations on the earth. Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee. The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear him. 

Vertigo

Until a year or so ago, I had no idea what this word even meant. Now, I rather wish I didn't. The day after moving in to my new home in Magnolia Hall, I got extremely dizzy. The dizziness didn't go away when I closed my eyes, or when I was lying down. It made rush difficult, to say the least. No surprise, my great God used this ordeal to give me more of himself. Isn't it incredible how he is so faithful to do that? The Lord really taught me what my head has known for a while - that joy is a choice. Me being miserable was no excuse for me to be grumpy, or to treat people poorly. Sure, a constant spinning room is infuriating, but I still have SO much to be thankful for. God is good in sickness and in health. At one point in all my testing they stopped an inner ear test because they found something wrong and sent me immediately to get an MRI. As imaginable, my mind rushed to all of the possible things that could be wrong. I was afraid, but not overwhelmed. My God has proved himself to me over and over in spite of my faithlessness, and I knew that He was enough for me. Whatever life has next, bring it on. All that matters is knowing and enjoying Him. 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength1 of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

There is enough of God to furnish us with any matter of joy in the worst circumstances on earth... Joy in God is a duty of great consequence in the Christian life and Christians need to be again and again called to it. -Matthew Henry

Magnificent

Almighty and most merciful Father, we are thankful that your mercy is higher than the heavens, wider than our wanderings and deeper than all our sin. Forgive our careless attitudes toward your purposes, our refusal to relieve the suffering of others, our envy of those who have more than we have, our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure, our indifference to the treasures of heaven and our neglect of your wise and gracious law. O God, change our hearts so that we may desire what is good, love what you love, and do what you command, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen


"Without knowledge of self, then there is no knowledge of God." -Calvin's Institues


Praise be to God who crushes me with the depth of my own sin, in order that I may dance for joy because of his overwhelming grace!