When Earth Sings Heavens Song

When earth sings Heavens song

It echoes in eternity

For man and angel join as one

To praise the Father’s majesty

When earth sings Heavens song

The enchanting melody

Drowns out any voice of fear

That speaks to torment me

When earth sings Heavens song

I see His face again

Though He was marred when He was beaten

He radiates now that He is risen!

When earth sings Heavens song

Strength enters my bones

I dance for joy for my heart knows

The victory is won!

When earth sings Heavens song

I pray we all join in

Very soon the trumpet will sound!

Jesus is coming again!

From that day on,

The song will never end!

Surrender Fear

It's Christmas time. I love Christmas, but with Christmas comes the realization that the year is drawing to a close.I have been thinking a lot about what I have done and what I haven't done this year. I've been unsure of my future ever since I finished Southgate interns in May. I've been scared that I won't be able to rise above challenges and handle the pressures of life.

I was listening to Christmas music just now when O Little Town of Bethlehem came on. One line struck me about Jesus:

The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

I'm struck by the strength of Mary. When the angel Gabriel came to her and told her she would give birth to Jesus by the Holy Spirit she must have been confused and scared. Why would God choose her an unmarried virgin to bring Jesus to the world? Even so she responded in obedience. Joseph stayed committed to her even though he was probably scared of what other people thought. His reputation didn't matter as much as obeying God.  As the couple journeyed to Bethlehem. It must've been terrifying. They didn't know what was ahead but they trusted God. He helped them find shelter where there was none. He protected Jesus from Herod in his raging jealousy.

God will use me and accomplish His purposes even in my fear. All I need to do is surrender and let Him do His work

Embracing a Delay

I really don’t like waiting for HandyDart. This past Wednesday was no exception. I had been given a 6:15-6:45 window to get to a bible study by 7:30. Then I was told the ride was going to be fifteen minutes late. Even though another bus showed up within the window to drop someone off, they wouldn’t pick me up. I began feeling really sorry for myself. I was waiting outside and it was getting cold.  I was supposed to get to the bible study early for dinner so I hadn’t eaten yet. I wanted to be able to get in a car and leave. I knew that HandyDart was deciding when I would leave the study too. The distance was too far for me to take a cab home. I wanted control over all these things like any other twenty something living in her first apartment.

I asked God when this would change. When would I be healed and have true independence? Then I thought about how the driver would feel if I brought this attitude onto the bus. They don’t choose their routes. The dispatcher tells them where to go and they go there. I didn’t want to say something I would regret later. But I was too frustrated to think differently. So I asked God to help me change my attitude and my thought pattern. I began feeling thankful that I had a ride to the Bible study even though it was late. I decided to make the best of the situation.

With God’s help I joked around with the driver and had a wonderful conversation with an older lady on the bus. The driver had picked her up from White Rock, that was the reason for the late arrival. This fellow passenger is also a Christian and we had a great conversation about our shared faith. She admired my joy and I enjoyed hearing about some of her experiences as a Christian. I got to the Bible study in good time and as I exited the bus I told this woman that I hoped I would see her again. We ended up sharing a bus ride home and continuing our conversation, which turned to our personal journeys to faith in Christ. I would have missed out on both conversations if I had stayed bitter about the late ride. I’m glad I decided to ask God to help me change my attitude and purify my thoughts. I would’ve missed out on a new friend otherwise.

Life is never completely fair. But I’m going to spend more time thinking about things that will point me to Jesus. He is always ready to change my perspective.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8, ESV

Not Every Season Ends

I don’t like change. Lately, changes have been happening very quickly. One sister just moved back home and another sister is taking her room in my apartment. I have just adjusted to a new personal care team and that team will change again in the next few weeks. And the list goes on. Sometimes I feel like I’m in a rushing river and just when I’ve grabbed something to hold onto the current carries me away again.

I know God never changes. I need to hold on to Him and not my circumstances if I’m going to experience any stability in life. I wish some seasons were a little longer than others. No matter how long a season is, whether in nature or in life, change is inevitable and unsettling. Every season must end to make way for new growth and new life. I knew all this but that hasn’t made it much easier to deal with all these changes. But then last night before I fell asleep God showed me something.

There is one season that will never end and that is eternity.

Nothing in this life will be here forever, not even life itself. My house, my possessions, my health everything passes away. My only hope is in God and the eternal life he has for me. I will give my whole life to sharing this hope with others, no matter what other changes come my way. God uses these changes to refine me, build my character and help me depend on Him. He does all of this because He has eternity in mind.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5, NIV

Am I Ashamed?

I'm taking New Testament Survey online this semester. I learned something very interesting this week. 1/4 of Matthew and Luke, 1/3 of Mark and 1/2 of John are devoted to the last week of Jesus' life. Everything from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem to His brutal death to His resurrection was exhaustively recorded by the gospel writers. They each wrote to a different audience, but they knew without a doubt that everyone reading these accounts needed the Good News.

Do we treat the Gospel that way?

2,000 years later, we in North America have these accounts in their entirety, in multiple translations and formats. I know that even with all these resources, I find it scary to share the Gospel with the same urgency and passion these writers had. I long to have the attitude expressed by Paul in Romans 1:16:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." (NIV)

The Church should be solely focused on spreading the Good News and making disciples. That's why we're here. Whatever happens lets make this our primary goal. It's God's heart that everyone come to Him- through the Church

New Posting Day

I realize I didn't post yesterday as I normally do on Wednesdays. I've come to the conclusion that with my class schedule and overall commitment to Southgate Interns, it would be best for me to post weekly on Saturdays from now on. I'm also going to be thinking and praying about where to take this blog in the coming weeks and months. I know there are great days ahead as I keep writing.

Journeys and Stumbles

Is it better to move in darkness
Just to move?
Or must there be light?

That's what she asked as she crept along the wall
Looking for the door

Once she grasped the latch,
The door gave way

Shadows of a garden
Were illuminated by the moon and stars
Enough to head towards the sunrise