Our High Priest // Our Savior

“There were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.  But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.  Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them.

For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.  For the law appoints as high priests men who have weaknesses, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.”                  ~Hebrews 7:23-28

Rooted in Him

Here's something I wrote about a year ago, but never posted anywhere.  I hope it blessed your heart and draws your eyes to our Jesus.  :)

During my last few weeks in Uganda, I was struggling with the feeling of having no roots, so to speak.  For a year I had been planning this trip to Uganda and now it was almost over.  I knew that God had called me to go to Uganda for a short season, and that when that season was over I was called to go home to serve my family, but I had no indication of how long or short that season would be.  My thought pattern went something like this: “I love this place, but how can I fully invest when I know that I will be leaving so soon?  I can’t really put down roots.  It will just make leaving that much harder.  And when I go home, I can’t really put down roots there.  For all I know, God may call me somewhere else next month.  I just want to know where God is going to have me long term so I can know when and where to put down roots.  I could stay at this orphanage for the rest of my life and be very happy.  I could go home and be with my family, or pursue getting involved with a ministry, and be very happy.  But everything in my life right now is so passing, so uncertain, lasting for only a short season.  Why can’t I at least just get married so I can put down roots, invest, and have security in that relationship?”  

One day, with these questions running through my mind, while sitting on the floor of my room at the orphanage, the Lord spoke so clearly to me from Psalm 1: “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!  But His delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf also does not wither; and in whatever he does he prospers. . . .”  I know I had read this Psalm many times, but never before had it spoken to me and gripped me like it did that day.  Was I truly delighting in the law of God?  Was it my constant meditation?  Was I seeking to be rooted in something, to have some security, apart from the faithfulness of God?  Indeed I was, and as the Lord continued to use these verses to speak to my heart He reminded me of the truth that this world is not my home.  I must be rooted in Him alone, for He alone is eternal.  It is His life within me that bears fruit.  There are many good gifts that God gives to His children, but these cannot be my security.  If I am rooted in Him, then it does not matter for how long or short a season I am in a place, I can fully invest and give of myself, trusting that He will use me and bear His fruit through my life.  I must be rooted in Him, secure in Him, satisfied in Him.  He must be my constant source of life.   

This world is not our home.  No matter how long or short a chapter of your life may seem, it is but a passing vapor.  This entire life is but a short breath in view of eternity.  We were not made to feel entirely at home here.  We were not created to be rooted in this world.  We were made for heaven.  We were created for our Jesus.  We are to be firmly rooted in Him, finding all we need in Him.  And then, wherever He leads us--Uganda, Colorado, home, marriage, singleness--be it for a short season or a long season of this life on earth, we can fully invest, fully give ourselves, fully spend ourselves.  He is love, joy, peace, life . . . in abundance.  He is more than all that we need.  If it is His life flowing through our veins, if it is His streams of living water that we are rooted in, then we will be fruitful, having something beautiful and life-giving to give in every place.  We can fully love and fully invest in those around us, knowing that His well never runs dry.  And when we turn a page and enter into a new chapter of this life, we can have full confidence and security in the One we are rooted in, knowing that He is all that we need in this season as well.

So let's seek Him and pray that He would open our eyes to see Him and our ears to hear Him, that He would give us a right understanding, love for, and delight in His Word.  Let's meditate on His Word, think on it, speak of it.  Let's ask to be even more firmly rooted in Christ, to know Him more. Oh, that we would know Him and be known by Him in increasing intimacy, that we would be fully devoted to our King, rooted in Him, bearing His fruit in abundance, that we would desire Him and Him alone, that He would be seen in and through us.  We need our Jesus to come and do a work in us, to change us according to His Word, to make us the way we ought to be. 
 


 

The heavens declare His glory

"For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: 'I am the LORD, and there is no other. . . ."                      ~Isaiah 45:18

More pictures of Marian

If you'd like to see more pictures of my beautiful little niece, Marian, visit Hannah's blog--throughthelensofgrace.blogspot.com.  You won't be sorry.  :)

Introducing . . .

Marian Grace Day

Born February 28th, 2013 at 3:15 am

8 pounds, 4 ounces, 21" long

 The happy parents--Josh and Hannah Day

 Mom meeting her first grandbaby

 Auntie Sarah

 A very happy auntie!

Auntie Miah

(Miah is her birth-home twin.  Both Miah and Marian were born at my grandparents' house, and Miah cut Marian's cord.)

John 1 // What I'm meditating on tonight

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:1-4)

The Word. God from before time began. The Creator of all. Life. Light. . . .
All-sufficient, sovereign, supreme, glorious Lord.  Truly, apart from Him we are nothing and have nothing, for apart from Him there is no life, there is no light, there is no creation.

"That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." (John 1:9-11)

The true Light came to the world He created and freely offered light to every man.  But what did He meet with?  Rejection.  Ignorance.  Indifference.  Ingratitude.

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13)

Blessing incomprehensible, joy unspeakable, to be called a child of God!  To be a child of the One who formed the earth, the Light of the world, the God who is Life.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  (John 1:14) 

The Word became flesh.  He dwelt among us.  He walked this earth.  His glory is on display for all to see.  His grace and truth are evident.

What will our response be?  Will we believe?  Will we receive Him?  Will we worship?  Will we turn to Him as our sufficiency, our Light, our Life?  Will we rejoice in being His?

His love

"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."                                                   ~Romans 5:6-8

How incredible is the love of God?  As I've been meditating on His love recently I've been struck by how unbelievable it is that He could love us in the first place, and then how astounding the greatness of His love is.  We are so unworthy, yet His love for us is not small and grudging; it's abounding and unending.  While we were still sinners, rebelling against the God who made us, loving and living for the very things that were killing us, Christ died for us.  He gave us life.  He drew us near.  He took away our shame.  He set us free from sin.  We are so far from perfection.  We will never be "good enough" for God.  We can't get our act together enough to deserve His love.  Yet He loves us anyway and transforms us by His love.  As you go about your day today, I pray that the love of God would overwhelm you in the most blessed and beautiful way.  Draw near to Him and allow Him to transform you by His love so amazing.   

Entertainment Generation

Very well said . . .

Reward

"God nowhere tells us to give up things for the sake of giving them up.  He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having--life with Himself."  
                                                                               ~ Oswald Chambers 
                                                                                                                                                        My Utmost For His Highest, January 8th

Children of God

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!"  (1 John 3:1)

"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."  (Galatians 4:4-7)

Children of God . . . what an incredible thought, what an amazing reality, what extravagant love!  To cry out, 'Abba, Father!' to the Holy, Holy, Holy One, how can this be?  To know that He has brought us near and is watching over us, how precious is this truth?  Oh, how I need the depth of this reality to be etched into my heart.  How I need to be taught by my Abba Father what it means to be His child, humbly dependent on Him, to be held by Him, lead by Him, transformed by His love.

Adopted. His. Rescued. Given a hope and a future. At home. Called by His name. Secure. Loved. Washed clean. Unspeakable JOY. 

Sweet Conviction

"If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word, then I know nothing of Calvary Love.  For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted."                                                  ~Amy Carmichael

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

A favorite hymn and a favorite recording artist.  I hope you enjoy both as you find joy today in being simply His.  :)

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

by Joseph M. Scriven

What a Friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, 

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry 

Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful, 

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our Refuge,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He'll take and shield you;

You will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised

Thou wilt all our burdens bear.

May we ever, Lord, be bringing

All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright unclouded

There will be no need for prayer.

Rapture, praise, and endless worship

Will be our sweet portion there.

(I highly recommend both of Chelsea Moon's albums, Hymn Project, Volume 1 and Hymn Project, Volume 2.  I stumbled upon them a few months ago, and they quickly became my new favorite albums to listen to.)