I'm smiling at the light of God's promise,
the hope that fills my heart
the assurance that tomorrow will always be better than today
(which is lovely because these todays are great)
and I know my heart will be filled more and more with his love
through community and friends and family

It is nothing more than hope
but his word is good.
and true!
and all the beauty in the world.

I am alight with hope in him!

New, Exciting Development!

Thanks to some positive, proactive encouragement from a Mr. Rick who afforded me the pleasure of talking with and learning from him on a recent visit to Stauf's, I have decided to be a little more committed to this blog. Or at least to writing more consistently. While I still have not decided on one particular theme from which to base the lot of my future grace paced writing, I have just come up with an idea that I would like to explore in the regular course of my days and document / expound upon here.

After coming across a couple old artworks I realized how satisfying it was to mull over Bible verses and later spread them out in some artistic form. So far I have mostly only realized this in a visual way, through doodles and paintings. It would be good also, though, to work out similar thoughts through writing. A good practice and discipline! This will be my goal as I progress through this blog, to focus on the Lord and His words with every bit of artistic ability I have. In thought and action and artistic interpretation; in heart, soul, and mind. Woo hoo!

Many good ideas come...

when you are ready for bed! Better than none at all, huh?

Most of us have heard that good things come to those who wait --

What is the foundation of this most hopeful of phrases?
After some investigating, I found that this quotation is derived from the Bible; specifically Lamentations, chapter 3 (verse 25).
"The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him."

With that, what is the 'good' to which these wise words refer?
Things? (What things?) Favor? A higher level of understanding, perhaps? Refined faith?...Does he grant his goodness after a certain amount of time? Is it a matter of time at all, maybe more of the heart? If this is so, can some 'wait' more effectively than others? Why do we wait in the first place?

This was kinda nice...

"God, the one and only --
I'll wait as long as He says.
Everything I hope for comes from Him,
so why not?
He's solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul..."
- Psalm 62:5-7

Pretty reassuring. That was the Message version.
From another, more traditional version (NIV) it says:

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge."

So from here we might gather that these 'good' things include hope, assurance, protection, honor and salvation.

With provisions like that, who is worried about specifics?

This may as well be the best
post-firework
highly caffeinated
late-night-drive home album

music
has
to
offer
.

Personal Discoveries

In my heart is gratitude for David and Bathsheba and Psalm 51 and a good, gracious God who works in and with and through us at our dirtiest to compose a heftier purity than ever imagined possible.

Think on these synonyms for renewal... rejuvenation, restoration, rebirth, awakening, revitalization... only He can do that!

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." - Galatians 5:13

Very recently I discovered what I would like to study, to do, who I would like to be . . . and this discovery has progressed beyond the desire to grow in knowledge about counseling into a devotion to displaying to everyone with my words, my actions -- my life! -- God's goodness, and purity. His patience and forgiveness and kindness. The depths of His consideration for us! His LOVE!

More and more I am learning the importance of reading the Bible and savoring all it has to offer, in taste, texture, satiation. May it be increasingly more satisfying, more trying...more nutritive.

Beyond this, I am needy for the good company of other likeminded individuals. We may try to go about it alone, but are not made to.

May we grow and love and live completely this new life, so everyone might see how ineffably admirable God is.

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind."
Philippians 2:1-2

"The nights of crying your eyes out give way to laughter."
Psalm 30:5 (Message version)


Photo credit to Flickr's *MizzEl*