Two Words That Mean So Much

Jesus Wept
It may be the shortest verse in the bible but its powerful. Watch the video clip...
Need I say more? As someone who has experienced grief, this is very accurate, at least it is from my point of view. The sitting shiva should sound a lot like my lying down days I spoke of in this previous post. Obviously Rob Bell, the man from the clip, has also been through grief and understands. I suggest watching the whole video if you can get your hands on it. May it encourage you and give you hope...a paraphrased veresion of what Rob says at the end of the video is as follows: "Jesus is sitting shiva with you, whether you realize it or not. Whatever your feeling is ok, but please don't choice to be bitter or closed but be open and know that while Jesus sits with you he is also restoring your heart.Your heart will never be the same but you will recover."
Peace and Love until the next blog,
Amanda

The God of all Comfort

Sitting in class the other morning (8a.m. might I add) I had my ever so often encounter with grief, once you have lost someone it is never quit the same, there is a totally knew meaning. Dr. Hooks, my addorable and rediculously intellectual professor, told us a story in order to fully explain a text, as it was Old Test Prophecy I was in. He spoke of a preacher he knew who lost his daughter to Lukemia. Afterword he could not preach as he was dealing with how exactly this sort of tragedy fit into his scheme of God. While the church gave him a time of absence, he was looking in Isaiah, I can honestly admit that even something as simple as this can be hard at such a difficult time in life. He was reading over chapter 40. In this chapter it says... "Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." According to this preacher, the scripture shows 3 forms of God's comfort and strength:

Wings like eagles-ecstasy

Run and not be weary-energy

Walk and not grow faint-endurance

My professor shared with us that some scholars argue the prophet had the order wrong but Dr. Hooks argues the prophet got it right with the greatest comfort last being endurance. Though I may not fully understand this yet or more certainly not be able to expalin it completely, I see the light. Perhaps it is easier for me considering I can relate with the preacher in this story but there is the all comsuming truth that God is the God of all comfort. And that is enough for me.

The journey

In the book I am currently reading, Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (which is great so far by the way), He starts the first chapter with the words I could very easily say apply to my life, they seem ever more familiar to this very day, the words are as follows: "I am early in my story, but I believe I will stretch out into eternity,and in heaven I will reflect upon these early days, these days when it seemed God was down a dirt road, walking toward me. Years ago He was a swinging speck in the distance;now He is close enough I can hear His singing. Soon I will see the lines on His face.....
Oh what a day that will be.

My Sunday Sundae

I sometimes find myself examing life in the form of a facebook status. Although I rarely use the application, it is interesting to think what exactly would be the words I would use to fit in that spot in that moment for whatever particular reason. Right now it reads in the form of a script and this is my line....
"Jesus, today and everyday you are my hot fudge and carmel sundae with a cherry on top!"
I realize not everyone, or even anyone, will understand this so for anyone who would like to know, then here goes...
Sunday was the anniversery of my baptism. The day I died with Christ and rose again with him. Honestly, I remember this date so well because it is the day after valentines day. Now thats a way to celebrate love! Anyways, I have found the journey more signifcant but none the less I like to celebrate this day. It's like the collision of my birthday and Jesus' brithday occurs on this day. How can I not celebrate that? I mean thats the kind of party I want everyday. Ok so today I was with two of my most precious friends who also like celebrations and we decided ice cream after lunch was in order. Considering ice cream on a chilly day isn't exactly my norm, hence the struggle deciding between coffee and ice cream. In the end, I decided on a sundae solely based on the fact that I could get hot fudge. I know my thinking doesn't always make the most since, but it justified it for me and that was enough. As I was eating this delicious creation I thought to myself "what the heck does ice cream and celebrating my resurrection through Christ have to do with each other?" I kind of wondered if I was just using it as an excuse to get something yummy. And all it took was the cherry on top to remind me that God sending Jesus to die for us when we don't deserve it even for a second is so much better than ice cream but then that he wants us to have abundant life, well thats just the cherry on top! I am thankful that God wants more than enough for us. So go enjoy something beautifully sweet today and remember he enjoys it with you!