Thoughts on Thankfulness

"The height of joy is dependent on the depth of thankfulness."
"I only deepen the wound of the world when I neglect to give thanks for early light dappled through leaves and the heavy perfume of wild roses in early July and the song of crickets on humid nights and the rivers that run and the stars that rise and the rain that falls and all the good things that a good God gives."

"I will praise the name of God with a song. I will magnify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

"Never is God's omnipotence and omniscience diminutive. God is not in need of magnifying by us so small, but the reverse. It is our lives that are little and we have falsely inflated self, and in thanks we decrease and the world returns right. I say thanks and I swell with Him, and I swell the world and He stirs me, joy all afoot." These are a few quotes from the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I haven't actually read this book, but someone sent me the quotes and I am so intrigued. My mom is almost done with it, and she said as soon as she finishes it she is going to start it over again. It must be that good. I love where she was going with these thoughts. Being thankful is ultimately to glorify God! When we are thankful, we are put in our rightful place under our creator, and we can have joy in his blessings. Then, we we are satisfied in him, he is glorified! I know it's a few days late for a Thanksgiving post, but my perspective has been changed this year when I think about the true purpose of giving thanks. And of all of life!

Jesus, With Thy Church Abide

We sang this hymn about three or four weeks ago at RUF. Ever since then, the last stanza has been burning into my mind.

May she guide the poor and blind

Seek the lost until she find

And the brokenhearted bind

We beseech thee, hear us

We beseech thee, hear us

I'm not exactly sure what it looks like for the church to do this. But I have a pretty good feeling that we are not fulfilling this prayer right now. There are definitely those that are doing one, two, or three, of the pleas that Thomas Pollock penned in the 1800s. But where is the balance of faithfulness to scripture and its resulting passion for the sheep without a shepherd? I can't say that I see the entire body of Christ pursuing the lost and helpless and bringing them into our congregations. As always, I have lots of questions, but no answers. Make this stanza your prayer with me this week!

Intentional is my Word of the Semester

IDOP

Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. I am convicted that I need a special day in order to remind me to pray. It is sobering to remember that in other parts of the world, there are Christians being physically beaten because they claim Christ. Parents are ostracizing their children who convert. Governments pass laws making it illegal to convert to another religion. I am so thankful for the incredible security I experience in the United States. I hope that today will be the beginning of a habit to pray for my brothers and sisters who are experiencing Christ's sufficiency in a way that I might never know. All praise be to the God who sustains them day by day and every hour. Their sacrifice is a sweet offering of praise to him.


"You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry." Psalm 10:17


If this concept intrigues you, check out the website for an awesome ministry called The Voice of The Martyrs. I have been reading their monthly magazine for a few years, and it never ceases to humble and amaze me. They also have lots of super practical ways you can get involved! And there is a really neat map that shows all the restricted nations. 

Books, Books, and More Books

Last year, after lots of friends asking me for book recommendations, someone suggested that I start a book review blog. So after a long delay, it's here! It's just short summaries and opinions on books to read (or not to read). So if you're interested, go follow it! I love to read, but feel like school takes that away from me. Hopefully over Thanksgiving and Christmas I'll be able to get caught up on my never ending list. Happy Weekend!
Here's the link: Turning the Page

Happy Reformation

So Monday may've been Halloween. But don't forget that it was also Reformation Day! If honor of this day, some friends and I watched the movie Luther and made Toll House cookies. I am fully aware that this sounds extremely lame. But I am a self proclaimed theology nerd, and it actually beat dressing up! Last November I wrote this post about Martin Luther. So if you need a refresher on Reformation history, go read that. But this week has renewed my appreciation for God's faithfulness to preserve the accurate passage of his Gospel throughout the centuries, and for the men he used to do so. As I was watching the movie, (which I highly recommend by the way) I was struck over and over again by Martin Luther's staunch adherence to truth. He feared God more than he feared men, and was not going to compromise what Scripture taught in order to make people happy or even to save himself.
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10
Let us not take for granted the things Luther, Calvin and Knox, etc. fought for. Because of their faithfulness to the Word of God we understand that salvation is completely a work of grace and not based on anything that we have done! What liberating truth! Praise be to God for not leaving me in my sin.