Remembering Truth

As of late, it feels like my husband and I have been experiencing much joy and much sorrow like we are riding on a teeter totter. Up and down we go through the day and even weeks.  Around every corner we find the little joys of life through our 1 year old waiting for us in a big smile and then out of no where we are faced with the sorrow and pain of certain situations our friends, family, and acquaintances find themselves in.  I find myself asking the Father if this is real life, if this is how my life will be day to day for the rest of my life. Living (trying) with my eyes wide open rather than shut and closed off to the reality of this world. Its a hard pill to swallow when you come to terms that pain, hurts, struggles, sickness, death is really the reality of what I live around.  What a sad reality.

But there is hope. We come back up on the teeter totter and we find the joy, beauty, peace, and laughter in the small moments of life.  But truthfully friends, we will not be satisfied unless we find this joy in the Father. When we are faced with sin/darkness day to day, we have to have something bigger than ourselves to lift our heads towards the sun, we have to have something bigger to remind us of the beauty around us.  I’m reminded of when I had to face the pain or struggles of my own “stuff” and how I can get sucked in to the emotions, the thoughts, the memories.  Its like a tape consistently running, never stopping.  We need someone to push the stop button and remind us that the darkness and pain is not our only reality.  We can look to something better, bigger, stronger, full of goodness and peace.

There is a song that Jonas and I have been singing lately at home and in the car and its called “King of my Heart”.  Here are the lyrics

Let the King of my heart
be the mountain where I run
The Fountain I drink from
Oh He is my Song

Let the King of my heart
be the shadow where I hide
the randsom for my life
Oh He is my Song

You are good good
ohhh You are good good
ohhh You are good good
ohhh You are good good

Let the King of my heart
be the wind inside my sails
The anchor in the waves
Oh He is my Song

Let the King of my heart
the fire inside my veins
the echo of my days
Oh He is my Song

You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let me down

When the night is holding onto me
God is holding on.
When the night is holding onto me
God is holding on.

Driving home after one Sunday, I sang the song over and over trying to remind my heart, mind, emotions, thoughts etc the simple truths that are in this song. I believe we must do this as we are faced with the day to day “stuff” in our lives.  Darkness (sin, pain, struggles, death) will always be there, but do you believe the LIGHT is bigger than your darkness? Do you believe that the Father is brighter than your darkness?  I can always fall back down on the teeter totter into the mess of life  it can consume me, but what the Father is teaching me is speaking or singing the truth of who he is.  He is good. He will not let me down.  He is safety. He is my anchor in the waves. He is the fire within my veins.

Speak truth my friends to your mind and heart.  Not the world’s truth.  Crack open that bible of yours and read the truth.  Let it help you. Let us do it together, ok? Let us help and encourage one another through this life of ours.

Father, help us. Father have mercy upon us. We need you more than ever.  We believe in your promises and help us know what those are in our hearts and minds. Father teach us how to face the struggles in our lives and I ask that you guide us closer to your heart by the work of your Holy Spirit. Come Lord, reveal yourself to us today.

 

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Epic of Eden: A journey through the Old Testament

I recently read a book that I had always had in the back of my mind, yeah someday I will read that.  Well that someday came a couple of weeks ago and I am so glad I did it.  While we were away at seminary, I had heard Sandra Richter speak in a Chapel service and was mesmerized by her way of teaching of the Old Testament.  She bought energy, passion, and interest to the stories of the OT.  Now if you are like me, the Old Testament can be a long, long, long book of many long, long, long chapters of many odd names, places, and stories.  You know what I am talking about and if you don’t know, how about you plop open that little bible of yours and start in Leviticus or Deuteronomy.  You’ll get the picture real fast!

I remember in college having to take an Old Testament class and one of the requirements was to read the entire OT by the end of the semester.  I remember one night I kept falling asleep and having to re-read the chapters.  It took me the whole semester just to get through it!! Not sure if I remember the last couple of books, but hey I tried.  Ever since that time, I really struggled with diving back into the OT and truly understanding the meaning and the importance of it. Until I started with the Epic of Eden.  Now its like a veil has been lifted and I truly embrace it.  I want to learn more and appreciate the backstory, framework, and guiding truths she gives in the book.

So if you are looking for a good read and wanting to challenge yourself theologically, go to amazon and order it. And when you do tell me about it!  I would love to talk to you about what you are getting out of the book.