2 Corinthians 4:16-18

(KJV)
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

(NIV)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Remember the weight of glory while you strive in your faith.

2 Corinthians 4:6
(KJV)
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ

(NIV)
For God, who said, ” Let the light shine out of darkness, ” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

I think this is beautiful passage, particularly as worded in the KJV. The beauty is that God gave this light to shine upon his son for us to see His glory.

Hebrews 12: 1- 2
(KJV)
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Today, I am thinking about removing hindrances. Things that distract me from The Race. This passage previously mentions several faith giants that overcame obstacles (including lack of faith) and through encouragement from God achieved great things for Him.
Remember that this passage says “don’t just concentrate on ignoring the problems! Focus on Christ, who will complete this work in you!”.

Just as an “aside” - I think that verse 2 (focus on Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith) is very important. Far too often we can get weighed down with commiseration about our lack of faith or our past sins.
Throw that off! Run the race! Focus on Christ - he has/will perfect your faith!

Be encouraged! (a.k.a. take heart!)

Philippians 1:3-4
(KJV)
I thank God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy

(NIV)
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

Someone who cares for me sent me this passage recently. It does great things for ones faith and self-confidence to hear that this person prays for me when I am in mind and that they do it with joy.

It was written on the back of a picture, and I am encouraged each time I think on the words and look at the photo. How blessed I am!

Psalm 121:5-8
(KJV)
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

(NIV)
The LORD watches over you - The LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

It has been a rough week so far. Some big questions; some frustrations and general disappointment. I take solace in this passage of scripture, knowing that regardless of what besets me.
It is hard to reconcile faith in God in light of horrible things that happen to us and that we do to ourselves.

I know that God will remain by my side and should I stray (O Lord, I hope not); I know that He waits to reconcile with me like the father of the prodigal son.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
(KJV)
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
(NIV)
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gaveus eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

I have often thought why is it that when I complete some sort of favour or good deed for someone (i.e. when I stop being selfish for a moment), that I feel good about it.

I feel favoured.

Strange it is that I should be the one that feels the good favour, when I am the one helping and not the one being helped (or “favoured”).

I think that this verse reveals the answer to why I feel this way in this situation. It says that the Lord Jesus, and God the Father, will encourage or comfort our hearts and strengthen us in every good work.

It makes a bit more sense now.

Here is a thought for the day regarding the gender roles question:

Essentially, feminists hope to change the behaviour of men without the women having to change. That will never happen. They want the men to be gentlemen without having to be ladies. Conservatives, mostly men, for their part, want the women to be ladies while still getting to do whatever they want, and clucking “boys will be boys.” That will never happen, either. Everybody wants the other guy to change and to be nice to him, without having to change his own behaviour. If women want the men to be good, they have to want to be good too. If men want women to be ladies, they have to start acting honorably.

Just something properly stated that I saw recently.

I am thinking about morality and modesty today. What are these two terms in our culture? Are they the same or just closely related. I know the definitions, but I am thinking about their implications in our day to day behaviour.

Here is the Modesty entry in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modesty

It is interesting how closely modesty is tied to religious virtue.

Today I am drawing camels, inspired by Picasso. Someone close to me likes camels and we are celebrating their completion of a big milestone.

So, congratulations are in order. You know who you are, well done!

Further to my post earlier this morning, here is another excerpt from the book to further define what the author means by “to repent” and to spur our contemplative life. (pg.55)

The opposite of repentance toward God is indifference, preoccupation with personal activities that captivate our attention more than God. Or, clinging to some false belief system would be the opposite of repentance toward God.
God demands to become the focus of our life. To repent toward God is to fully turn to Him as not only the primary but also the singular concern. To repent toward God is to repent from our independance of Him.

This is a nice practical, straight-forward reality from the author. Repent is defined as turning from something to another. It has fallen out of use in daily language because of its religious connotations, but it is a very descriptive and apt word.

You can order a copy of Michael Pearl’s book here, on No Greater Joy Ministries.