zephaniah

so two days ago. i stole some toilet paper. Haha it seems harmless but the fact is. it was pre-meditated theft. i knew Caribou had extra toilet paper(i could possibly get in trouble if any Caribou workers are reading this..) i knew we needed some for our dorm so i went there and took a couple rolls for our room. i walked away feeling some guilt but acting as if it was a small sin. the truth is it would be the same thing as grand theft auto. in both situations my heart is in the same state: selfish and unrepentant and not listening to the Lord's gentle Spirit telling me to stop and follow Him. my roomate convicted me. overall i don't think i'll steal toilet paper anytime soon again. but the Lord reminded me of Jeruselam and how they daily kept turning from the Him whether it seemed small or big. they were unrepentant and unbelieving. somedays, actually most days I am like Jerusalem...

"She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the lord; She does not draw near to God."-Zephaniah 3:3

but this verse brings hope...

"The Lord within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning He shows forth His justice; each dawn He does not fail..."Zephaniah 3:5

because of Jesus' blood we can say...

"The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17


what a beautiful picture of His love.

He will rejoice over you! just like Jesus said in Luke 15 Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.


i listen to no voice, i except no correction and yet You forgive. thank you for Your unfathomable grace oh Lord.

I long to see You in every morsel of creation
In ever glimpse of Your design may I ponder Your love
So unconditional
So constant
So steadfast
So perfect
I see You in the clouds the way You rain down on our souls
I see You in the stars the way You shine even while our eyes are diverted
I see You in the thunder Your powerful hand making my heart fear leading me to love
I see You in a mother the sincere gentleness You possess
I see You in a father the wondrous ability to display Your abundant strength
I see You in a baby’s eyes seeking the love of humankind
I see You in a lover’s face jealous for our affection
I see You in a field laden with snow clothed in white perfection
I see You in an evergreen it’s scent filling our senses when all should be dead
I see You in a lively daffodil the beauty You possess
I see You in the wild the risk and freedom of the wilderness
I see You in a sunrise the hope of today
I see You in a sunset the mystery of the night

I see You on a tree laying down Your life
Oh Lord may I ponder Your love…

tim chester

this is definitely the time of year i notice birds the most. the beauty and freedom they have. sometimes i get jealous. seriously.

“Telling a slave to be free is to add insult to injury. But telling a liberated slave to be free is an invitation to enjoy his new freedom and privileges.”

- Tim Chester

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

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1



....i dare say, like an untamed bird, He wants you to fly. fly in the freedom of His grace and love for you at the cross. perhaps then we will be most motivated to live a life worthy of the calling we have received (Ephesians 4:1)..when we know how very much our savior loves us and has freed us...let's fly..

viktor frankl

so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7

what is to give light must endure burning- viktor frankl

john and peter

'for they loved the approval that comes from man more than the approval that comes from God.' John 12:43
'and YOU are her children if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.' 1 Peter 3:6

HE conquered the 'fear of man' on the cross. He has defined you as His adopted child.

let nothing and no one else define you. seek the approval that comes from God. He approves of you because you are covered by the blood of Christ. THIS approval is more beautiful and eternal then any person could ever give you.

india

this is just a follow up to the last entry, the extra $47.50 went to my friend jess
she is going to india this summer! they are going there to spread the gospel at college campuses and raise up leaders. Not only will they disciple students in india to be firm in their faith and the finished work of Jesus Christ. but they will help to teach the students how to disciple others. so that grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4)

they'll make disciples who make disciples who make disciples... how beautiful. all of this by the grace of God.

if you feel lead to support jess or pray for her this is her e-mail. jaschrock@students.nwc.edu

nick. jess. anna. and the rest of the body of Christ.

so i have a sweet short testimony of God's amazing grace and goodness that i just have to share. my brother, Nick, was in a car accident a few weeks ago. a very severe one, they said none of them should have lived. he had a collapsed lung and dislocated hips and a few other injuries. nick has always been so strong and wise and it was hard to know he was hurting. i instantly wanted to be home. but the Lord said i had a job to do at school, because i'm an RA and had a couple tests that week. so i remained in Minnesota while my brother was in Wisconsin. i hated it. probably the hardest couple of weeks i've been through in a while. obviously i was very excited for Easter break, to see Nick. then, this monday, my friend Nina and i were driving and i, irresponsibly and foolishly, was not wearing my seatbelt. a cop pulls us over, comes around on to the passenger side and said "you need to stop fooling around and wear a seatbelt" then he handed me 120 dollar ticket.

that night, i called my mom and knew i had to suck it up and take my consequences. i knew i couldn't go home for Easter and had to stay in the cities to pick up a couple of hours at work. i was able to pick up enough that would get me $112.50. i cried for hours that night, knowing i wouldn't be able to go home and see my brother and in anguish with what the Lord was trying to teach me, knowing He is always a loving and gracious Father but at this point not quite believing it. i believe i even threw a couple swear words into that prayer. i think the Lord thought that was funny..knowing the plan He had...
two days later i got several messages telling me to check my mailbox at college. i was worried it would be some weird note or some other fine i'd have to pay for the school, almost believing that God would keep showering me with disciplines. i opened my mailbox and saw a white envelope. i opened it up and read this short and beautiful note:

"God loves you
and so do we

buckle up
and go home."


in the envelope was approximately $145.00: money for gas and money for the ticket. (the givers of this money continue to remain anonymous but i do have a few hints...)

the next day Anna gave me an extra $22.50 to pay for gas.

the driver, my friend Jess, would not take any money for gas.


i have $47.50 left from these anonymous givers. i can't wait to see who the Lord wants me to give it to....


i'm home now and spent the day with Nick. i had a day full of texas hold 'em poker, the final four tournament, and action films. haha. Nick is healing up and sleeping soundly on the couch.

trust me, God is good.
money or no money, no matter your circumstance He will use whatever He needs to to show you how very gracious and loving He is. but if you really want to see the pinnacle of His love...look at the cross.

while we were driving home, I said to Jess, "it's so hard to accept this free gift of money. i want to find all of these people and pay them back. otherwise i feel so shameful that i'm in debt."

my wise friend Jess responded "isn't that such a reflection of how hard it is to except God's free gift of grace."

yes, it is. thank You Jesus.