Truth: \ˈtrüth\
-The state of being the case: fact
- Actuality
- The property of being in accord with fact or reality
per Merriam-Webster's online dictionary
I'm not going to write a novel here.
I will only state that the only thing that kept me from adopting this new-age philosophy that every god is the same god- that good people go to heaven and that there is no hell- is that I could not accept the idea that there is no truth.
Truth, by definition, excludes. In order that truth exists, there must also be falsehood.
I believe that Truth exists, and whats more: that it is attainable. And what's best: that the Truth, Praise God, is good and hope-filled.
I believe God truly exists, and that our opinion of Him will not change who He, in TRUTH, is.
My last conclusion, also, has been that Jesus IS the truth. the life. and the way.
Praise be to Him- it is not a matter of how good I have to be to get into heaven; it is a matter of how good He is to receive me, by His blood, into His kingdom. And I have only to sincerely love Him to be welcomed. Hallelujah!
And that's the Truth!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
The End of Waiting
I don't quite know how to introduce this, so I will just take you back to when it began for me.
It was 4 months into the Fall Semester of my Senior year when I first knew I would be waiting. I felt it stir in me- not as a vision or as a word from the Lord, but almost as a dream- when you are in a situation, and no one has said anything, and nothing has happened, but you just know exactly what is going on, and exactly what the person before you is thinking.
Somehow, I just knew. Upon graduating, I would have a year of waiting.
This truth came upon me gradually, and I began to accept it, and expect it, almost without thinking about it. It became evident that whether or not I moved back home with my parents, or stayed in Athens, or made some adventure to an unknown land-- wherever I made my home, I would be waiting for a year.
I was not sure for what. Only that I would be waiting.
I did, however, know that this would include any form of worship ministry.
And so, upon my graduation, I was no longer part of the blessed worship team for the Wesley foundation. I no longer met with other worshipers who were diving deeper with God, seeking to be used by Him to lead others into His presence. I wasn't surrounded by a body of people my age thirsty for worship, and hungry to give themselves bare before their God. In His mercy and joy, He allowed me still to have a wonderful church who lives to worship Him. They have been a great encouragement, and a great place to rest and to worship among the people!
Half the time I have stood silent among them. Sometimes overcome by Him, sometimes too spiritually exhausted to sing, and sometimes just wanting to savor every sound from those around me.
Waiting.
And now, the year is up.
I can't say, really, what the year of waiting was for, what He accomplished in it, or what lessons I have learned from it. Honestly, I do not know, and I haven't felt led to consider it. All I know, is that I am at such wonderful peace, because I know it was what He wanted for me.
And you know, I think He just did it for me. I needed just to be with Him again. Not spending time with Him because I needed to, in order to prepare for leadership. In waiting, I only spent time with Him because it was exactly what I wanted to do at that moment. To sing with Him. To be with Him. And it wasn't as constant or as commited or as often. But when I did- it was because I loved Him.
And now He has asked me to lead worship for a home church that will be starting next month, comprised of some of the most glorious people in my eyes. They have poured into me time and time again- feeding me scripture and encouraging my steps, and reminding me of who I am by reminding me of who He is. They have asked me to lead worship, and I confess- I am scared. And yet so excited and so confident! I am so sure that God alone has called me to do this.
It is odd. I am at such odds with myself! On the one hand, I am jumping out of my SKIN to get to do this! Imagine- to strum strings attached to wood, and vibrate vocal chords- and THIS ushers in the presence of the most Powerful, and most Loving of all the heavens and earth?! And yet that very thought alone is exactly what makes me understand Saul upon Samuel's coming to proclaim him as king:
"Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. So they inquired further of the Lord, 'Has the man come here yet?' And the Lord said, 'Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.'" 1 Samuel 10:21b-22
Little Saul, hiding in the baggage.
I pray that my eyes will feast themselves on their Maker- that I will look to God, and praise Him because HE is worthy, and not because I am. I will remove my focus from my baggage, stop hiding among it, stand up and praise Him. Because He is worthy. And because I love Him.
It is the end of waiting.
It was 4 months into the Fall Semester of my Senior year when I first knew I would be waiting. I felt it stir in me- not as a vision or as a word from the Lord, but almost as a dream- when you are in a situation, and no one has said anything, and nothing has happened, but you just know exactly what is going on, and exactly what the person before you is thinking.
Somehow, I just knew. Upon graduating, I would have a year of waiting.
This truth came upon me gradually, and I began to accept it, and expect it, almost without thinking about it. It became evident that whether or not I moved back home with my parents, or stayed in Athens, or made some adventure to an unknown land-- wherever I made my home, I would be waiting for a year.
I was not sure for what. Only that I would be waiting.
I did, however, know that this would include any form of worship ministry.
And so, upon my graduation, I was no longer part of the blessed worship team for the Wesley foundation. I no longer met with other worshipers who were diving deeper with God, seeking to be used by Him to lead others into His presence. I wasn't surrounded by a body of people my age thirsty for worship, and hungry to give themselves bare before their God. In His mercy and joy, He allowed me still to have a wonderful church who lives to worship Him. They have been a great encouragement, and a great place to rest and to worship among the people!
Half the time I have stood silent among them. Sometimes overcome by Him, sometimes too spiritually exhausted to sing, and sometimes just wanting to savor every sound from those around me.
Waiting.
And now, the year is up.
I can't say, really, what the year of waiting was for, what He accomplished in it, or what lessons I have learned from it. Honestly, I do not know, and I haven't felt led to consider it. All I know, is that I am at such wonderful peace, because I know it was what He wanted for me.
And you know, I think He just did it for me. I needed just to be with Him again. Not spending time with Him because I needed to, in order to prepare for leadership. In waiting, I only spent time with Him because it was exactly what I wanted to do at that moment. To sing with Him. To be with Him. And it wasn't as constant or as commited or as often. But when I did- it was because I loved Him.
And now He has asked me to lead worship for a home church that will be starting next month, comprised of some of the most glorious people in my eyes. They have poured into me time and time again- feeding me scripture and encouraging my steps, and reminding me of who I am by reminding me of who He is. They have asked me to lead worship, and I confess- I am scared. And yet so excited and so confident! I am so sure that God alone has called me to do this.
It is odd. I am at such odds with myself! On the one hand, I am jumping out of my SKIN to get to do this! Imagine- to strum strings attached to wood, and vibrate vocal chords- and THIS ushers in the presence of the most Powerful, and most Loving of all the heavens and earth?! And yet that very thought alone is exactly what makes me understand Saul upon Samuel's coming to proclaim him as king:
"Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. So they inquired further of the Lord, 'Has the man come here yet?' And the Lord said, 'Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.'" 1 Samuel 10:21b-22
Little Saul, hiding in the baggage.
I pray that my eyes will feast themselves on their Maker- that I will look to God, and praise Him because HE is worthy, and not because I am. I will remove my focus from my baggage, stop hiding among it, stand up and praise Him. Because He is worthy. And because I love Him.
It is the end of waiting.
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