Journal Entries

I journal so much more easily than I blog, so I have decided to enter a few of my journal entries (one now, more to come). My journal entries mostly consist of notes to God or self with a bit of poetry or prose added in every now and again.

From February, 2007...

Lord, we keep moving forward, filling our calendars, planning events, teaching and preaching. It seems like there should be more that we're working for, but I know that we are where You want us to be-- although we do not always see the results of our labors. You have not called us to be famous, just faithful. You have not called us to be popular, just pliable. You have not called us to be extravagant or wealthy, just extremely blessed by your daily care. Our blessings come in Your timing and Your ways. May we serve without seeing; may we love without luxury. Lord, I want to feel-- Your presence and the plight of others, compassion and love for each. I want to impact others' lives for Your kingdom and in Your name! Amen.

Satisfaction Doesn't Come Easy

I just completed a major assignment in my Bible Study class at Southwestern Assembly of God University. I was dreading this assignment because it entails so many tiny details that are time consuming. Also, I was dreading it because my professor is a stickler. Well, I am done with it! Hallelujah! It was called an Interpretative Analysis of 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5. It ended up being eight (8) pages long! You know what, though? I was dreading it SO much, but now (that it's over) I kinda liked doing it. I have no idea what my grade will be (and that scares me), but I enjoyed the learning process of the whole thing. If I wasn't going to be graded on it, I probably would have enjoyed it even more (but I probably wouldn't have done it, either). Well, now that it's over, I feel satisfied, like I accomplished something. I didn't benefit anyone else; I didn't help another soul; but I feel like I started something that was excruciatingly difficult and I finished it with all my hair on my head and a bit more knowledge inside. Satisfaction doesn't come easy, but it feels really good!

Know What You Believe

I recently wrote a comment to one of my friend's blogs. He was writing about how he used to believe that truth was relative, but now he understands that truth is based on the Word of God and is not simply based on what a person believes. My comment to him was about something that puzzles me frequently-- Why do people preface many of their ideals with the words "I believe"? When someone says that I want to ask them, "If you don't believe it, then why are you saying it?" For instance, someone may be sharing God's Word and they say, "I believe that we need to love people," or " I believe that God's Word says..." Should we love people? Does God's Word say...? It doesn't matter if we believe it. It doesn't matter if we don't. It is what it is! We need to say, " We need to love people!" "God's Word says..." When we add "I believe," we are adding a disclaimer. The only place for a disclaimer is when we could be wrong, like when someone says, "I believe that the Tennessee Titans are a great football team." That leaves room for discussion, a difference of opinion. There is no room for that when it comes to God's Word! Like I said before, it is what it is! It is truth (and I believe it)!