Yesterday I went by the library to renew a book for Andrew, and a small book on the top shelf of the new books section drew my attention. And even though I have a number of books at home already that I need to read, I checked out The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller since the story from Luke 15 is very special to me. It's almost like I needed to see what this author had to write about it ... especially since it was titled the prodigal GOD! In the introduction, he explains that prodigal doesn't mean "wayward" as we often believe. It actually means "recklessly extravagant" and "having spent everything." Perhaps you can tell by that definition how it would fit God.
After not reading far at all, I saw, too, where this author was focusing not only on the immoral younger brother who tends to get most of the attention, but also on the self-righteous elder brother. Both young men were mentioned by Jesus and each represented people listening to Christ's message, the "sinners" and the Pharisees.
I've read the first few chapters and here are a couple of things that I wanted to share thus far. They really made me pause for reflection.
"Elder brothers obey God to get things. They don't obey God to get God himself - in order to resemble him, love him, know him, and delight him. So religious and moral people can be avoiding Jesus as Savior and Lord as much as the younger brothers who say they don't believe in God and define right and wrong for themselves. Here, then, is Jesus's radical redefinition of what is wrong with us. Nearly everyone defines sin as breaking a list of rules. Jesus, though, shows us that a man who has violated virtually nothing on the list of moral misbehaviors can be every bit as spiritually lost as the most profligate, immoral person. Why? Because sin is not just breaking the rules, it is putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord and Judge." (pg. 43)
The author gave an example of someone who tried to earn God's favor, success, and "the good life" by being very moral.
"[By] seeking to put God in his debt and get control over him through his good works -- instead of relying on his sheer grace -- he was acting as his own Savior. . . . There are two ways to be your own Savior and Lord. One is by breaking all the moral laws and setting your own course, and one is by keeping all the moral laws and being very, very good." (pg. 44)
Thoughts?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Fun with Friends!
Last night we celebrated the Fourth with friends! Most of these are with my crazy friends, Teresa and Denise.
We went to see the city's fireworks .... we happened to sit so we viewed them from behind a tree. Interesting perspective. :-) We had a GREAT time!
Still cracking up when I think of Chelsey talking about a friend who spelled words/his name with statements such as "it's p as in pneumonia, g as in gnat, k as in knight." Ha, ha, ha, ha!
We went to see the city's fireworks .... we happened to sit so we viewed them from behind a tree. Interesting perspective. :-) We had a GREAT time!Still cracking up when I think of Chelsey talking about a friend who spelled words/his name with statements such as "it's p as in pneumonia, g as in gnat, k as in knight." Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thoughts on Jeremiah
I started reading Jeremiah a couple days ago and am a bit over halfway through it. It really struck me the other day how God was so good to Israel, yet they rejected Him. I found myself feeling sad as I realized how people God loves reject Him even though He has demonstrated His love and faithfulness. And before I start criticizing the Israelites of old, I best remember that I often do the very same thing!
As I read, God's heart ... His emotions stood out to me. He's not an unfeeling God who doesn't care what we do. Just as someone explained to me recently "the reason we apply pressure on our loved one to do right is because we love him." Yes, I understand. I've said the same thing in the past. If we didn't love someone, we wouldn't care if he made unwise choices and ended up hurting and destroying his life. We become involved because we do care and we do love!
Just now I was reading Jeremiah 30 & 31. This verse in chapter 31 really touched me:
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
the child in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
I still remember him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
I have great compassion for him,"
declares the LORD.
I really love that. I can relate to those sentiments of my heart longing for someone or something. Dictionary.com says this about "yearn."
I am so glad God has great compassion and that His heart still is moved towards His erring children.
The other day I was laughing as I read this description of idols from Jeremiah 10. The part about the scarecrows in a melon patch and the idols having to be moved just amused me! But now it just seems rather sad when I think of it. People were -- and still are -- willing to worship and follow useless, man-made things when the Savior wants a relationship with them.
Which leads to this part of a verse (21) from chapter 30 which was really probing. I'm not sure what it means in its context. Regardless just this phrase jumped out at me and I read it many times.
'... For who is he who will devote himself
to be close to me?'
declares the LORD.
Maybe this stood out to me because here lately I've felt as if God wants me to learn first to wait on Him and second to not think of waiting as wasting time. Time spent with God is never a waste. As I wrote about recently, I need to learn to be satisfied with God and delight in Him. And maybe ask myself if I'm willing to devote myself to getting close to God.
As I read, God's heart ... His emotions stood out to me. He's not an unfeeling God who doesn't care what we do. Just as someone explained to me recently "the reason we apply pressure on our loved one to do right is because we love him." Yes, I understand. I've said the same thing in the past. If we didn't love someone, we wouldn't care if he made unwise choices and ended up hurting and destroying his life. We become involved because we do care and we do love!
Just now I was reading Jeremiah 30 & 31. This verse in chapter 31 really touched me:
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
the child in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
I still remember him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
I have great compassion for him,"
declares the LORD.
I really love that. I can relate to those sentiments of my heart longing for someone or something. Dictionary.com says this about "yearn."
| 1. | to have an earnest or strong desire; long: to yearn for a quiet vacation. |
| 2. | to feel tenderness; be moved or attracted: They yearned over their delicate child. |
I am so glad God has great compassion and that His heart still is moved towards His erring children.
The other day I was laughing as I read this description of idols from Jeremiah 10. The part about the scarecrows in a melon patch and the idols having to be moved just amused me! But now it just seems rather sad when I think of it. People were -- and still are -- willing to worship and follow useless, man-made things when the Savior wants a relationship with them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
4 They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.
5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good."
Which leads to this part of a verse (21) from chapter 30 which was really probing. I'm not sure what it means in its context. Regardless just this phrase jumped out at me and I read it many times.
'... For who is he who will devote himself
to be close to me?'
declares the LORD.
Maybe this stood out to me because here lately I've felt as if God wants me to learn first to wait on Him and second to not think of waiting as wasting time. Time spent with God is never a waste. As I wrote about recently, I need to learn to be satisfied with God and delight in Him. And maybe ask myself if I'm willing to devote myself to getting close to God.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Michael's baptism!
On Sunday, June 28, Michael was baptized at his church.
He looks so proud. When asked if he'd accepted Jesus as his Savior, you could hear a loud and confident "YES!"
Here he is with his friends, twins Olin and Louin
Michael was baptized just before his dad was. People chuckled when they saw how high the water was on him in the baptistry.
Michael & friends at the beach
Last week Stephanie and Michael went to the beach with 3 other moms and 5 other boys. As Steph put it, "The boys had a lot of fun." Here are a few pictures of them enjoying their days together.
And here they all are - clean & civilized
Michael is center left.
Stopping to smile for the camera
Michael (R) and one of his buddies.
I think this pose is rather Syrian. :-)
I think this pose is rather Syrian. :-)
And yet again. Michael (L) and friends.
The last night ... Mike on left
Looks like a barrel of fun!
Michael is the one being hugged...hey, I do it, too!
Michael is the one being hugged...hey, I do it, too!
And here they all are - clean & civilized
Michael is center left.
Starting July with a bang! Oh, the excitement!
Dear sweet Amber tagged me the other day so I shall start the month of July with this "8 things" thing.
By the way, happy July, y'all!!!
8 things I'm looking forward to:
1. Going to Teresa's on Friday -- we are celebrating America's birthday one day early
2. God working mightily in some people's lives
3. My next Girls' Night Out
4. Going back to Damascus to see old friends & meeting Louai one day
5. Restored relationships
6. Seeing where the "Wild Goose" takes me
7. Visiting with Michael again & the rest of my family, too
8. Seeing Jesus & being with loved ones & meeting new loved ones in heaven
8 things I wish I could do:
1. Something worthwhile!
2. Relax and enjoy God while waiting & be satisfied
3. Change people's hearts (including mine)
4. Restore marriages and other broken family relationships
5. Lose a bunch of weight
6. Eat only healthy foods & love living that way (no sugar, no pizza, no junk food)
7. Live elsewhere for a while
8. Go back to Damascus and see all my wonderful friends again
8 things I love:
1. Jesus
2. My family
3. Meeting and talking to foreigners
4. Damascus/"my" Arabs
5. Flowers, trees, grassy hills, mountains, the beach
6. A sweet, cool watermelon on a hot summer day
7. High-speed internet service
8. Reading
8 things I did yesterday:
1. Went to the post office to buy stamps and mail a letter
2. Uploaded Michael's baptism pictures to Facebook
3. Cut up a cantaloupe
4. Talked to Samer on Messenger
5. Read and responded to a few blogs
6. Looked at all of Carmen's wonderful pictures from her two weeks in Florida
7. Walked the neighborhood ... morning and evening
8. Sat on the porch and read in my world religions book
8 Shows I watch:
1. The Andy Griffith Show (reruns obviously)
2. FOX8 10:00 news sometimes
3. The Amazing Race
4. Survivor
5. I used to watch The Apprentice until they went to two-hour episodes last season
6. I can't think of anything else that I watch right now
7.
8.
If you read this, and you haven't been tagged or done this before and are interested (how is that for adding conditions?), consider yourself tagged! :)
By the way, happy July, y'all!!!
8 things I'm looking forward to:
1. Going to Teresa's on Friday -- we are celebrating America's birthday one day early
2. God working mightily in some people's lives
3. My next Girls' Night Out
4. Going back to Damascus to see old friends & meeting Louai one day
5. Restored relationships
6. Seeing where the "Wild Goose" takes me
7. Visiting with Michael again & the rest of my family, too
8. Seeing Jesus & being with loved ones & meeting new loved ones in heaven
8 things I wish I could do:
1. Something worthwhile!
2. Relax and enjoy God while waiting & be satisfied
3. Change people's hearts (including mine)
4. Restore marriages and other broken family relationships
5. Lose a bunch of weight
6. Eat only healthy foods & love living that way (no sugar, no pizza, no junk food)
7. Live elsewhere for a while
8. Go back to Damascus and see all my wonderful friends again
8 things I love:
1. Jesus
2. My family
3. Meeting and talking to foreigners
4. Damascus/"my" Arabs
5. Flowers, trees, grassy hills, mountains, the beach
6. A sweet, cool watermelon on a hot summer day
7. High-speed internet service
8. Reading
8 things I did yesterday:
1. Went to the post office to buy stamps and mail a letter
2. Uploaded Michael's baptism pictures to Facebook
3. Cut up a cantaloupe
4. Talked to Samer on Messenger
5. Read and responded to a few blogs
6. Looked at all of Carmen's wonderful pictures from her two weeks in Florida
7. Walked the neighborhood ... morning and evening
8. Sat on the porch and read in my world religions book
8 Shows I watch:
1. The Andy Griffith Show (reruns obviously)
2. FOX8 10:00 news sometimes
3. The Amazing Race
4. Survivor
5. I used to watch The Apprentice until they went to two-hour episodes last season
6. I can't think of anything else that I watch right now
7.
8.
If you read this, and you haven't been tagged or done this before and are interested (how is that for adding conditions?), consider yourself tagged! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)