4/3/12

Bapa,

Your "glory" is Your station, Your rank, Your attributes, Your ways: righteousness, might, divinity, strength, grace, honor.
Hebrews 2:9 "...now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death..."
Psalm 22:22-23a "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the lord, praise him!"
My Strong's concordance speaks of the definition of "praise" in these verses to be "to boast" and even the sun and moon are called upon to praise Him! How incredible!
Flabbergasting, Bapa! From Hebrews 3:6 "hope" to Galatians 5:5 "But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope." Strong's concordance puts it just as beautifully: "the believers complete conformity to God's will, at the coming of Christ."  => "the hope of righteousness." Lord, thank You for such confidence, assurance, comfort, and hope. Thank You for putting this so beautifully. The things I've never even thought of before! What did You do to change me so radically? Finally found someone to put into my life to call it as he saw it and to say to me, "focus on the good and not the bad"? How wise and compassionate You are! Bless him, please. I want this yearning for You to continue and deepen. I can so easily feel Your presence in worship right now. Help me to hold onto that. How wonderful it would be to be in  Your presence always!!! And to praise You daily?! What an honor that would be! Help me to show others what an honor and blessing this can be onto their lives. I think now of my mother and brother...if only they knew what I feel and see in You/from You. I want them to know.

~Alexandra

In and Through

It is in dying that we live.
In singing that we praise.
In teaching that we learn.
In seeking that we find. In trusting that we laugh.
And that in believing we receive grace.

It is through experience that we are mindful.
Through living that we journey.
Through talking that we heal.
Through giving that we love.
And it is through loving that we forgive.

by Alexandria Muto

Measuring Up

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." 1 Corinthians 1:25

Lord,

Your name is to be praised!
To be at Michigan Tech with all these "smart people" does make me feel like I don't measure up, but it's great to be reminded that even the smartest students here don't measure up to You. I'm not saying this to put these people down, but to give myself a small understand of just how majestic You are.

"Who am I that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name? Would care to feel my hurt? Who am I that the bright and Morning Star would choose to light the way for my ever wondering heart?" ~Casting Crowns

I may not measure up when it comes to human intellect, but I am Yours.

"'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" Acts 17:28

My Heart Was On the Line

I didn't know how I felt about you, dear sir. I didn't know until just recently how attached to you I have become.
Your kindness was shown to me with no limits. And your generosity was laid on your sleeve at all times.
Your smile was easy to come and your words of encouragement and hope always upon my ear.
To what did I owe such love?
No, not love, but friendship.
Yet my eyes were clouded and my heart taking bigger and bigger parts of my 'liking' for you.
Yes, my heart was on the line.

Where did my rationality go when you walked into a room?
Why did my breathe leave me when you were my first sight?
Was this friendship meant to move forward? No.
For your departure is iminant and your love somewhere else, somewhere beautiful.
And yes, my heart was on the line.

Lord, set me right. Set me back on the path of friendship and take my heart off the line.
Help me to be the best possible friend I can to him, but nothing more until Your Word says otherwise.
Bless this friendship so that it may grow. Help us to become encouragers of each other into Your Word.
And let Your praise be on our lips at all times.