A blurb.
Though I am not sure of the nature of words that will spill out this morning, but it seems like Ive been an overfilled balloon of compressed air and need some kind of outlet. This past week was a whirlwind of activity and a broad range of emotion as we began the week with a funeral and ended it with a wedding.
Friends of ours, the Olfert family, lost their 20 year old son Jeremiah 2 weeks ago due to heart failure. What a testimony of faith and boldness that family is. It was by far the longest and most inriguing funeral I have ever attended. Time meant nothing as they spoke of the miracles God had performed in Jeremiahs life from the time he was born. He had heart problems from birth, with his first heart surgery at 6 days old. It was the LORD's will that Jeremiah should live through "impossible" odds, and with the family deep in prayer and petition for the life of their son - the LORD gave Jeremiah a more than healthy life. A few years ago the doctors declared Jeremiah, with complete unbelief in their tone, to have a healthy, normal heart. And then, a couple weeks ago, it seems as if the LORD just plucked him out of this earth and said "Its time to come home" No accidents. No abnormalities. Nothing out of the ordinary. He was playing football, and his heart failed.
What a terribly tragic beautiful blessing.
Some influential songs:
When I Get Where Im Going - Brad Paisley feat. Dolly Parton
Follow Me There - Third Day
Trust in Jesus - Third Day
Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
One week later we attended the joining of 4 (yes FOUR) hearts in marriage. Two sisters and their significant others in one ceremony, beautiful vows before God and man. It was strange almost, being a year out of that day. I looked at my ring and noticed it has lost a lot of its shine. On the wedding day, it seems the rings, smiles and intentions are all so perfect. Though we are no great distance from the starting line, it seems the LORD has brought us already to deeper places of unity and humility together that may not have the shine and luster we all want, but it is REAL and deep. It is a beautiful beginning, wedding days: but even more beautiful I believe, is the race to come. It was exciting and challenging as we listened to the pastor speak of marriage. "Keep the other always in your debt - you both keep doing so much for the other that they are always in your debt" He spoke of being the others biggest encourager. There were a few times during the sermon when Rocky or I leaned to the other and said "I dont do that very well"
Lord, keep us in your grace. Keep us in your mercy.
Just recently I began reading a book that speaks of thankfulness. The woman writing the book writes through her personal experiences and struggles with thankfulness and connects it to her lack of joy. "Is the height of my (chara) joy dependent on the depths of my (eucharisteo) thanks?"
And as I began thinking this morning, it has become clear that this is actually quite relevant to me right now. In the areas that I really struggle with joy in the LORD or in anything, can it be because of thanksgiving? But I cant force myself to be thankful, is what I thought. So true gratitude, I have concluded, comes from a place of recognizing reality. The reality of the situation is, I deserve none of the things I have. From relationships, to living luxeries, even my relationship with the LORD. All truly are gifts, graces in my life. And if I really KNEW that on an every day basis, I would inevitably be much more thankful. In turn - much more joyful.
Any thoughts?
Friends of ours, the Olfert family, lost their 20 year old son Jeremiah 2 weeks ago due to heart failure. What a testimony of faith and boldness that family is. It was by far the longest and most inriguing funeral I have ever attended. Time meant nothing as they spoke of the miracles God had performed in Jeremiahs life from the time he was born. He had heart problems from birth, with his first heart surgery at 6 days old. It was the LORD's will that Jeremiah should live through "impossible" odds, and with the family deep in prayer and petition for the life of their son - the LORD gave Jeremiah a more than healthy life. A few years ago the doctors declared Jeremiah, with complete unbelief in their tone, to have a healthy, normal heart. And then, a couple weeks ago, it seems as if the LORD just plucked him out of this earth and said "Its time to come home" No accidents. No abnormalities. Nothing out of the ordinary. He was playing football, and his heart failed.
What a terribly tragic beautiful blessing.
Some influential songs:
When I Get Where Im Going - Brad Paisley feat. Dolly Parton
Follow Me There - Third Day
Trust in Jesus - Third Day
Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
One week later we attended the joining of 4 (yes FOUR) hearts in marriage. Two sisters and their significant others in one ceremony, beautiful vows before God and man. It was strange almost, being a year out of that day. I looked at my ring and noticed it has lost a lot of its shine. On the wedding day, it seems the rings, smiles and intentions are all so perfect. Though we are no great distance from the starting line, it seems the LORD has brought us already to deeper places of unity and humility together that may not have the shine and luster we all want, but it is REAL and deep. It is a beautiful beginning, wedding days: but even more beautiful I believe, is the race to come. It was exciting and challenging as we listened to the pastor speak of marriage. "Keep the other always in your debt - you both keep doing so much for the other that they are always in your debt" He spoke of being the others biggest encourager. There were a few times during the sermon when Rocky or I leaned to the other and said "I dont do that very well"
Lord, keep us in your grace. Keep us in your mercy.
Just recently I began reading a book that speaks of thankfulness. The woman writing the book writes through her personal experiences and struggles with thankfulness and connects it to her lack of joy. "Is the height of my (chara) joy dependent on the depths of my (eucharisteo) thanks?"
And as I began thinking this morning, it has become clear that this is actually quite relevant to me right now. In the areas that I really struggle with joy in the LORD or in anything, can it be because of thanksgiving? But I cant force myself to be thankful, is what I thought. So true gratitude, I have concluded, comes from a place of recognizing reality. The reality of the situation is, I deserve none of the things I have. From relationships, to living luxeries, even my relationship with the LORD. All truly are gifts, graces in my life. And if I really KNEW that on an every day basis, I would inevitably be much more thankful. In turn - much more joyful.
Any thoughts?
Comments
Post a Comment