Creating

Last night as I was on my way to check the mail, I got to thinking about nature and then creation. If God is immutable, then He is still creating. What is He creating today that is on the scope of the original creation? I think the answer is people. Then I was wondering, what will He create during eternity? I'm not sure, but I am looking forward to it. We will also be able to create things, since we are made in God's image.

I hope I get to travel on the new heaven and the new earth. Sometimes I get a little sad that I will not be able to see as much of this earth that I would like or have as much time with people as I wish or read all of the beautiful waiting words. I need to remember that this world is a shadow.

A shadow that require gas money. I'm off to fill out my mileage form.

Be Still, My Soul

I only knew the first two verses to this and am happy to discover the rest. There is definitely power in speaking truth, which is one reason I like hymns. I am glad that we have the authority of Christ to speak to our souls. BTW, one of my personal beliefs is that many people are going to be caught off guard one day when they stand before God and He mentions all of the promises and praises they sang without conviction or surrender. I surely am guilty of this at times, just singing away without truly remembering the One whom I am praising.

Be Still, My Soul

1. Be still, my soul:
the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently
the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God
to order and provide;
In every change,
He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul:
thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways
leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul:
thy God doth undertake
To guide the future,
as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence
let nothing shake;
All now mysterious
shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul:
the waves and winds
still know His voice
Who ruled them
while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul:
when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened
in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know
His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe
thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul:
thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness
all He takes away.

4. Be still, my soul:
the hour is hastening on
When we shall be
forever with the Lord.
When disappointment,
grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot,
love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul:
when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed
we shall meet at last.

5. Be still, my soul:
begin the song of praise
On earth, believing,
to thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him
in all thy works and ways,
So shall He view
thee with a well-pleased eye.
Be still, my soul:
the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds
shall but more brightly shine.

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If You Want Me To

Previously, I have mentioned Ginny Owens as being, to my knowledge, one of our most profound and encouraging Christian artists. One of my pen pals in junior high sent me her album "I Am," and I return to her music when I need to be reminded of God's truths. Ginny is blind and single. When she sings of surrender, it comes from deep personal experience. One of her songs that has been ministering to me over the past three months is "If You Want Me To." I found this version of her performing it. To be honest, I much prefer the audio recording, but it is poignant to watch.

The American Christian culture seems to think there is something wrong with hardship. If life is not easy, then something is wrong! God is supposed to come through for us, right? The truth is, hardship and suffering drive us to God. They conform us to Jesus (Philippians 3). Yes, God is our provider, defender, and advocate. He is always with us. Yet, as Ginny puts it: "But You never said it would be easy. You only said we'd never go alone." As Christians, we are supposed to endure hardships and still run the race well.

A question with which I still struggle is why God allows such a magnitude of suffering in the world. Furthermore, it seems that oftentimes it is the countries that do not know Him that suffer most. It seems unjust that people should have horrible lives and eternal deaths. However, Acts 17 has been a great comfort to me in this regard. It talks about how God has "preappointed [our] times and the boundaries of [our] dwellings in the hopes that [we] might grope for Him and find Him." (Katie paraphrase) It occurred to me the other day that in allowing vast amounts of suffering, God may be giving these people the impetus to reach out to Him. Otherwise, people tend to wait until they reach the end of their own strength before they are interested in God.

If You Want Me To
The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to

Chorus:
Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone

ya oh oh no

So When the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
And I will go through the valley If You want me to