All right, perhaps I have been thinking/questioning/pondering too much:
I am always wondering this:
Do I matter?
I am not supposed to matter, right? God alone matters. I am to die to myself. Less of me and more of Him.
The question itself is selfish and self-focused, pulling away from God's glory, right?
Okay.
If I don't matter, then why do I exist? Why should I exist? Why should I continue to exist?
To glorify God.
If I don't matter, then God doesn't need me to glorify Him.
True, but God doesn't NEED me to glorify Him. He wills that I should glorify Him. He is God and requires that I glorify Him even if I am nothing. The rocks SEEK to glorify Him.
That is my existence?
In His presence, do I matter? Why? How? How much?
He created you in His image. He set you apart from the animals. You are of worth far greater than a raven and He knows when a raven dies. How much?! So much that He would choose to die for you.
But if some are determined to wrath, then we could say that He didn't die for them. (CALVIN!!) Then, do they matter?
"God so loved the world that He sent His only Son."
We can call Him "Abba, Father." Jesus and the Holy Spirit INTERCEDE for us in our weaknesses. He chose to have a relationship with us.
Is this a stupid question to ask? I have no value, but He has chosen to value me. He has chosen to redeem me with His blood. I am His adopted daughter.
How easy I forget that. How much I should meditate on that idea!
It is by His grace that we can matter -- to Him.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Predestined Vessels for Wrath
A great portion of today I was wrestling through the idea of predestination and "free will." At one point, I began to think about those destined for wrath. All we know, as Christ-followers, is our responsibilities we must carry out. We know what we must do and how we should live. We do not know what "balance" or "paradox" may exist bewteen the choices "we make" and what God has already determined, but we know how we must live.
We do not know who is determined for wrath.
This morning, I began to doubt (in bitter resentment and rebellious SIN) my need to go out and work – who cares and why should I? God already has prepared them for wrath.
As I jogged and thought I then realized that this concept should spur us on ALL the more to go out and within to CARE for people.
At least, when they die and they are being judged they will be able to acknowledge that they did see, hear, feel, know His love, but they chose to reject it. If we would CARE for others, on judgment day, even those prepared for hell would not be able to condemn us, but would realize their sin and be able to glorify the Lord all the more. While we care for others we also have the opportunity to bring some to His throne for grace. We might be able to find some destined for glory. What if He has suffered long through the vessels prepared for wrath in order that we might be able to experience His riches, His mercy, and His grace? (Parable of the tares in the wheat. When the tares are sown in, you can only wait to see the wheat.)
Here I must be careful…I again want to question, but questioning can be sinful. I will not lean on my own understanding. Leaning on HIM promotes the hope and energy within me to GO OUT. My questions pull me down and make me lethargic; releasing my need to know releases me to serve others. Focus on HIS glory, not mine.
If I did not care about my life, if I wanted to lose my life and be His slave, then I would have no trouble even if all I did was predetermined. If the Lord has determined all then that is good and blessed be His name for rewarding us when He has made us do it all. (But why?!) No!!! …I will stop my typing.
In short, all weak man can say is, "to Him be the honor, praise, and glory for ever. He is wise. I am dumb. He is everlasting; I am momentary. He is in control. I cannot change that, but I must submit to it."
We do not know who is determined for wrath.
This morning, I began to doubt (in bitter resentment and rebellious SIN) my need to go out and work – who cares and why should I? God already has prepared them for wrath.
As I jogged and thought I then realized that this concept should spur us on ALL the more to go out and within to CARE for people.
At least, when they die and they are being judged they will be able to acknowledge that they did see, hear, feel, know His love, but they chose to reject it. If we would CARE for others, on judgment day, even those prepared for hell would not be able to condemn us, but would realize their sin and be able to glorify the Lord all the more. While we care for others we also have the opportunity to bring some to His throne for grace. We might be able to find some destined for glory. What if He has suffered long through the vessels prepared for wrath in order that we might be able to experience His riches, His mercy, and His grace? (Parable of the tares in the wheat. When the tares are sown in, you can only wait to see the wheat.)
Here I must be careful…I again want to question, but questioning can be sinful. I will not lean on my own understanding. Leaning on HIM promotes the hope and energy within me to GO OUT. My questions pull me down and make me lethargic; releasing my need to know releases me to serve others. Focus on HIS glory, not mine.
If I did not care about my life, if I wanted to lose my life and be His slave, then I would have no trouble even if all I did was predetermined. If the Lord has determined all then that is good and blessed be His name for rewarding us when He has made us do it all. (But why?!) No!!! …I will stop my typing.
In short, all weak man can say is, "to Him be the honor, praise, and glory for ever. He is wise. I am dumb. He is everlasting; I am momentary. He is in control. I cannot change that, but I must submit to it."
Looky Here!
Look what happens when I don’t have papers to grade, or a need to plan for the next day!
Look what happens when I live in a house alone!
Look what happens when I have no immediate and pressing responsibilities!
I turn on Alicia’s Mix-O-Rama (which includes, but is not limited to: Louis Armstrong, Queen, Evanescence, and some Mary Poppins), I then proceed to run around the house for some minutes at a time in order to exercise and think. The other portions of the day I read, write, think, let out dogs, eat, read, think, read, think, write, eat, let out dogs, dance around, eat while I turn on the TV, let out dogs, sleep.
::chuckling, chuckling::
What a sad yet intriguing existence.
Look what happens when I live in a house alone!
Look what happens when I have no immediate and pressing responsibilities!
I turn on Alicia’s Mix-O-Rama (which includes, but is not limited to: Louis Armstrong, Queen, Evanescence, and some Mary Poppins), I then proceed to run around the house for some minutes at a time in order to exercise and think. The other portions of the day I read, write, think, let out dogs, eat, read, think, read, think, write, eat, let out dogs, dance around, eat while I turn on the TV, let out dogs, sleep.
::chuckling, chuckling::
What a sad yet intriguing existence.
Funny Thing about Gyms...
I was just pondering this as I entered the YMCA to go exercise on Monday:
What weirdos we are!
I know that the Young Men’s Christian Association has existed for some time. I know the Roman’s had their bathing houses and men were trained for war, etc, but what time are we living in that we have to schedule in time to exercise so that we don’t get fat?! I was thinking about my time of seclusion in this house in the snow, I have to tell myself to run around the house and then the rest of the time I sit to read, sit to write, sit to type, and sit to watch TV. Bleh. We--sorry there are crazies out there-- I don’t DO anything. Blah.
Why are dieticians so surprised that there is a surplus of morbidly obese people? People have been eating (and enjoying) doughnuts for generations. People have been cooking with lard and cream for centuries; those people (often) just had more movement in their lives. Now you take away a feeling of purpose in peoples lives, remove them from a community, give them images to lust after and depress over the realization they can never have that body, give them quick meals, cars, desk jobs, OF COURSE, PEOPLE are GOING to get FAT!
I don’t know that the causes of obesity have actually grown, I think the results have just been able to show themselves easier. Plus, MOST Americans, now, do not have to struggle for their next meal. That helps.
Then again, we have a “backwards” culture in that the rich are thin and the poor are fat. (But, our poor are actually "richer" -- in closer reach -- to life sustaining supplies than a great part of the world's poor.)
The actual point: we now need to SCHEDULE exercise into our lives. We choose to PAY for memberships. People have created multiples of exercise companies knowing that the American population will flock to use them. Just so weird. Our lives are such that we PAY to use our bodies. haha
What weirdos we are!
I know that the Young Men’s Christian Association has existed for some time. I know the Roman’s had their bathing houses and men were trained for war, etc, but what time are we living in that we have to schedule in time to exercise so that we don’t get fat?! I was thinking about my time of seclusion in this house in the snow, I have to tell myself to run around the house and then the rest of the time I sit to read, sit to write, sit to type, and sit to watch TV. Bleh. We--sorry there are crazies out there-- I don’t DO anything. Blah.
Why are dieticians so surprised that there is a surplus of morbidly obese people? People have been eating (and enjoying) doughnuts for generations. People have been cooking with lard and cream for centuries; those people (often) just had more movement in their lives. Now you take away a feeling of purpose in peoples lives, remove them from a community, give them images to lust after and depress over the realization they can never have that body, give them quick meals, cars, desk jobs, OF COURSE, PEOPLE are GOING to get FAT!
I don’t know that the causes of obesity have actually grown, I think the results have just been able to show themselves easier. Plus, MOST Americans, now, do not have to struggle for their next meal. That helps.
Then again, we have a “backwards” culture in that the rich are thin and the poor are fat. (But, our poor are actually "richer" -- in closer reach -- to life sustaining supplies than a great part of the world's poor.)
The actual point: we now need to SCHEDULE exercise into our lives. We choose to PAY for memberships. People have created multiples of exercise companies knowing that the American population will flock to use them. Just so weird. Our lives are such that we PAY to use our bodies. haha
Questions of Reality
A question: does the absence of ultimate power and independent existence take away the reality of a being?
--The economy is real. Its effects are real. It is dependent on humankind for its existence.
--We are God’s creatures. Without Him moving, breathing, living, and willing we would not exist. We only have the power that He has given us. We are whatever shape in which He has chosen to mold us. Does that take away the reality of our being? Do we actually exist?
--Define: “actual existence.” Do you have to have an effect upon something else in order to “actually exist”? (That tends to be my thought.)
--Define: “effect upon something” – your actions and choices have consequence(s) that affect the life and living and/or operation of someone or something else.
Does it have to be an independent action and a consequence independently created and grown? (Am I wanting to be a deist?)
--Does God determine all of our actions and all of our actions’ consequences?
--Does that take away their reality and thus, the reality of our existence?
Not that we don’t exist, but “apart from Him nothing was made that has been made.” I know my view is messed up.
How do I know what is reality? Does the Bible ever talk about, “this is reality”? I guess the reality of life is never really questioned. It is assumed that we all agree that we exist. The Bible's main concern is IN our existence who has power and authority and what our reactions must be within that structure.
Praise the Lord that He does not leave me in solitary confinement very often! I would go crazy in the pseudo-existence of my thoughts!
Praise the Lord that He did NOT allow me to major in Apologetics and Theology or Biology or Philosophy. I would be depressed and a hermit.
I found (one) of my processing problems: our existence is not based on what we DO. It is WHO has created us. Our identity and the reality of us comes from Him. He is ultimate reality.
Redefine “actual existence”: created by God, in His image.
Define: “His image”: not at this time, please.
--The economy is real. Its effects are real. It is dependent on humankind for its existence.
--We are God’s creatures. Without Him moving, breathing, living, and willing we would not exist. We only have the power that He has given us. We are whatever shape in which He has chosen to mold us. Does that take away the reality of our being? Do we actually exist?
--Define: “actual existence.” Do you have to have an effect upon something else in order to “actually exist”? (That tends to be my thought.)
--Define: “effect upon something” – your actions and choices have consequence(s) that affect the life and living and/or operation of someone or something else.
Does it have to be an independent action and a consequence independently created and grown? (Am I wanting to be a deist?)
--Does God determine all of our actions and all of our actions’ consequences?
--Does that take away their reality and thus, the reality of our existence?
Not that we don’t exist, but “apart from Him nothing was made that has been made.” I know my view is messed up.
How do I know what is reality? Does the Bible ever talk about, “this is reality”? I guess the reality of life is never really questioned. It is assumed that we all agree that we exist. The Bible's main concern is IN our existence who has power and authority and what our reactions must be within that structure.
Praise the Lord that He does not leave me in solitary confinement very often! I would go crazy in the pseudo-existence of my thoughts!
Praise the Lord that He did NOT allow me to major in Apologetics and Theology or Biology or Philosophy. I would be depressed and a hermit.
I found (one) of my processing problems: our existence is not based on what we DO. It is WHO has created us. Our identity and the reality of us comes from Him. He is ultimate reality.
Redefine “actual existence”: created by God, in His image.
Define: “His image”: not at this time, please.
Our Economic Crisis
We don’t know how far-reaching this crisis will go and we do not know how long it will last. We know we don’t want it to continue, but we don’t know how to stop it. We do not know who “needs” to be bailed out. We don’t know how much to give them or even how we could give it all to them. We don’t know what regulations should stay and which rules should be grown.
The economy is the center of conversation and the economy is the center of many people’s troubles. And yet, in and of itself the economy is nothing. It is something we have created and put into being. Without us, without the people, the economy has no power; the economy has no existence. We give the economy the power to rule and trouble us. Not that “economy” doesn’t exist, but it’s a label for a system that is made of men. “We” (in the broad and general term) are choosing to live and die by something that ultimately, has neither existence nor any power.
Then are these effects real? Of course. But how can something that is a working idea (the economy) affect something that is its creator (mankind)? We let it. It isn’t the “economy” that has taken our money, it is men. It is the selfish and greedy choices (I speak generally and broadly again) of men. The economy is the tool which we choose to make it. It will become whatever shape we mold it into. Our choices have consequences. They have been and could be very harmful. The faults within our system provide evidence for this point.
The economy is the center of conversation and the economy is the center of many people’s troubles. And yet, in and of itself the economy is nothing. It is something we have created and put into being. Without us, without the people, the economy has no power; the economy has no existence. We give the economy the power to rule and trouble us. Not that “economy” doesn’t exist, but it’s a label for a system that is made of men. “We” (in the broad and general term) are choosing to live and die by something that ultimately, has neither existence nor any power.
Then are these effects real? Of course. But how can something that is a working idea (the economy) affect something that is its creator (mankind)? We let it. It isn’t the “economy” that has taken our money, it is men. It is the selfish and greedy choices (I speak generally and broadly again) of men. The economy is the tool which we choose to make it. It will become whatever shape we mold it into. Our choices have consequences. They have been and could be very harmful. The faults within our system provide evidence for this point.
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