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August 30, 2007
Do not fear
This was devotion I received in my e-mail this morning as I begin my first day of classes at Covenant Seminary. I've been pretty fearful lately about going to school and how to balance my time with the ministries I want to be a part of and having the self control to study. Today I'm actually excited to get to take the classes and dive into reading. We'll see how I feel in a week!
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for
I am your God. I
will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you
with my righteous right
hand.Isaiah 41:10
Many of us struggle with fear. It is a very
uncomfortable emotion. We would
be happy to be rid of it. It causes our hearts to
race, our focus of attention
to narrow, and terrible possibilities to enter our
minds. We wish we could
banish fear from our hearts by sheer will power. We
wish we could simply
stop feeling afraid. Unfortunately fear is not
dismissed so easily.
There is something about texts such as this one that
leave us very uncomfortable.
The words "do not fear" seem like a simple command.
God says "do
not fear". It looks like a simple imperative. Our job
is simply to
obey. But, we cannot seem to obey. No matter how hard
we try not to be afraid,
we cannot seem to make our fears go away.
The key to understanding texts of this kind is to see
that when God says
'do not fear', it is not a simple imperative from an
authority figure. The
words "do not fear" are spoken as words of comfort.
And they are followed
by a specific promise of God's presence with us.
A loving parent speaks to a child who awakens from a
nightmare with words
such as, "Don't be afraid. I'm here with you. You are
safe." This
is not a rejection of the child's fears. It is not an
instruction to do
the impossible. It is, rather, a promise of
protection. If a parent says
only "Don't be afraid," then the child learns that the
parent
doesn't understand and the child feels unprotected.
But if the parent says
"Don't be afraid, I'm here with you," the child's
needs are validated
and the child is comforted by the parent's protection.
God comforts us in the way a loving parent comforts a
frightened child.
God says to us, "I know that you are afraid; but I
also want you to
know that I am here with you. I will not leave you. I
will give you strength.
I will give you help. I will hold you by the hand so
that you will not fall".
You know, God,
how often I am afraid.
And you know the soil in which these fears have grown.
And you know how I have struggled to be free from
fear.
Help me to draw courage today from your presence.
Be with me.
Give me strength.
Help me.
Uphold me with your hand.
Still my fears, God of all Comfort.
Still my fears with your powerful love.
Amen.
-Dale and Juanita Ryan
Posted by Miss Mark at 9:38 AM
August 23, 2007
"I like an escalator...
...because an escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. There would never be an escalator temporarily out of order sign, only an escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience." -Mitch Hedberg
Jen S. introduced me to these two guys.
Posted by Miss Mark at 4:24 PM
August 22, 2007
God's Own Fool
Seems I've imagined Him all of my life
As the wisest of all of mankind
But if God's Holy wisdom is foolish to men
He must have seemed out of His mind
For even His family said He was mad
And the priest say a demon's to blame
But God in the form of this angry young man
Could not have seemed perfectly sane
We in our foolishness thought we were wise
He played the fool and He opened our eyes
And we in our weakness believed we were strong
He became helpless to show we were wrong
And so we follow God's own fool
For only the foolish can tell
Believe the unbelievable
Come be a fool as well
So come lose our life for a carpenter's son
For a man who had died for a dream
And you'll feel the faith His first followers had
And you'll feel the weight of the beam
So surrender the hunger to say you must know
Have the courage to say I believe
For the power of paradox opens your eyes
And blinds those who say they can see
So we follow God's own Fool
For only the foolish can tell
Believe the unbelievable, come be a fool as well
1 Corinthians 1:25-31
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Posted by Miss Mark at 4:48 PM
travels
Heidi and I had a great time in Chicago.
Neil stopped by on his way home from a trip to eat and hang out with us.
The main things I enjoyed was Heidi and my similar travel style- laid back, chilling with Neil at My Pi, and hangout with Lana and Heidi in the rain on the pier that holds the Atler Planetarium .
Oh and FYI:
The Festival of Nations is this weekend: August 25-26, 2007 at Tower Grove Park.
Also, there is A South Asian Heritage Fair on September 9th in St. Charles.
Posted by Miss Mark at 2:58 PM
August 16, 2007
what's going on
I haven't found much to say lately and my internet hasn't been working on my computer (even though I've had some a good chats with Dell customer service reps- one about Bollywood movies.) Yay for kind roommates to share and for libraries with the internet! I've had a lovely time since London and have spent a lot of 1 on 1/ small group time with people- my favorite way of hanging out.
* I'm now a part of two fake bands- The F.I.N.Ks and The Westward Hos- which have led to a few lengthy discussion on Facebook: . (And even a Haiku Contest if you're interested in joining.)
* My roommates and I have named ourselves the Estroden and just put up a quote wall today.
* I've watched some good movies: Guru, Baabul, Waiting for Guffman, Daddy's Little Girls, and
What About Bob?.
* My roomies have become slightly addicted to Big Love. I'm slighted addicted toThe Office (linked to an office quote page).
* I've become very appreciative of married couples that hang out with single people. Thanks friends!!
* I've read/ am reading a few good books: I Loved a Girl and The Dangerous Act of Worship
* I'm starting seminary soon- I'm a little scared yet excited...excited to learn but a bit fearful of not knowing future direction. Thankfully I'm in Jesus' hands!
* I'm trying to get more organized- i.e. writing everything down in my little planner- here's to trying to be a little more of a Judger!
*I'm more comfortable riding my bike around St. Louis. I don't feel like STL is a very bike friendly city but I haven't been hit yet. yay!
* I'm going to Chicago this weekend with Heidi to explore the city.
Posted by Miss Mark at 10:26 PM
August 9, 2007
Tanya in Springfield
Make your own here:
simpsonsmovie.com
Posted by Miss Mark at 3:30 PM
August 7, 2007
Letter from NK Missions
Drea, my roommie and soon to be professional flamenco dancer, introduced me to this: 8.15: Int'l Day of Fasting & Prayer for North Korea from NK Missions.
The clock is ticking. North Korea can open at any moment. We must be ready. We are praying and fasting this August 15, for the readyness of the Church to enter North Korea. Signups to fast and information on local prayer meetings at
Posted by Miss Mark at 3:31 PM
August 6, 2007
variations on a beer
Posted by Miss Mark at 11:45 AM
Thoughts on Goodness
I was powerfully struck last night about God’s goodness. When I went to Calcutta a few years a go I questioned God and had a deep crisis of faith. “Is God good?” “Does he see these faces of ALL these people that live on the streets with nothing?” “Does he know their name?” “Where are you God?”
As I reflect on my time in London and Nairobi, I saw that God is good, he is drawing people to himself, andhe does know each name. I also saw His people powerfully sharing His love amidst circumstances that, from a human perspective, look overwhelmingly hopeless.
As I so deeply long, and not so deeply at times, for people to come to know Jesus and be set free on Earth and for eternity I see that Jesus is the answer- he IS the only hope for this world. As I learned more about Allah I was struck by how much fear is used to motivate. So much of my of my life has been serving a God under fear – I’ve assumed and continue to fight the feeling of moodiness and a general annoyance toward me from God. What a lie I have lived under and have forfeited some of the grace that could be mine! I’m so thankfully that Jesus takes all my lack of faith and works and makes them acceptable to our holy God. He is my only hope.
I have wondered in the past- “Will God let someone go to hell that had a chance of coming to know him?”- i.e. lived longer, had a few different circumstances. Thankfully, I am more assured that God is good- fully good and that he knows each heart. He is drawing people to himself in many ways and pouring out His beautiful grace to sinners to like.
"The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." Psalm 145:8-9
Posted by Miss Mark at 11:09 AM