AUGUST 11, 2016

"To proceed very far through the desert, you must be willing to meet existential suffering and work it through. In order to do this, the attitude toward pain has to change. This happens when we accept the fact that everything that happens to us has been designed for our spiritual growth.” 
― M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth

PSALM 90-92

The Psalmist is comforted in knowing all God asks is that we love him...

14“Because he^b loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15He will call on me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.(91:14-15)

ROMANS 11:1-21

Paul deals with the essence of grace...

1I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3“Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”^a ? 4And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”^b 5So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

JOURNAL 

Today is the day...it is the only day. This is the moment...it is the only moment. Oh how I get so caught up in the thoughts of tomorrow and the unchangeable past. It's funny as I look at my cat laying on the floor without one care in the world. I wonder at times if that is how we are to live...

I think the answer is yes and no. For animals they really live stress free...they truly embrace the moment because the have no ability to do otherwise.  Yet at the same time they act on exactly what they feel without the critical ability to choose. It makes me wonder and realize that just because I have ability doesn't mean it should be indulged. It is the same with desires...just because I have them doesn't necessarily mean they should be indulged. 

With this incredible ability to imagine, analyze, remember and create it is really overwhelming all the things our brains can entertain. It is in this that I realize how critical it is that I seek God in all things and in all moments. The myriad of choices which I encounter each and every day can become paralyzing and also destructive if I don't have an anchor in which to tie myself. 

That is the beauty and grace of the gospel and the spirit that dwells deep in my mind and heart. It will not fail me no matter the circumstance, heartache, joy, success, failure etc. etc...It is what propels me to walk through suffering and heartache. It is what encourages me to keep going no matter how inconceivable it is to trust the narrow hard way rather that the easy, well-traveled. It really is my only reasonable hope to live the life I was created to live.

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
- 2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18