Thankful reflections

Today, I got to go to my sister’s lake house to be still before God.  I curled up in a chair with a heater on full blast and journaled prayers and studied God’s word.  It was a blessing.  In December I visited there, and I knew there was a need for me to pull away consistently to do that.  There’s something about the water and total quiet.  There are no excuses, no distractions.  Plus, on the way there, I enjoyed music on my ipod.  It is so good when you listen to songs that quench your soul.  I listened to one of my old favorites from Dave Hunt–“Vision of Christ.”  These lyrics are a good reminder:

 

battered and bruised, knocked down and torn

i’m so tired of fighting

so what’s the use of going on

i am weary of trying

then when I want to lay down and die

the Spirit of God quickly reminds me. 

 

 

the eyes of the Lord see so much farther

than you and i can see

past all the pain,

past all the sorrow

into eternity

when we are tempted to run and hide

may we remember the vision of Christ 

 

an innocent man wrongly accused

he knew no sin at all

a beautiful lamb mocked and abused

he responded to the call

to be sin for us

and  lay down and die

that you and i could experience life

 

it was for the joy set before him

that he endured the cross

we know in this world

we will all have trouble

but he has overcome

 

Puts things into perspective, huh?  I am reminded of Paul writing of fellowshipping with him in his sufferings.

Romans 8:17-18

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

 

Philippians 3:10

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings becoming like him in his death” 

  May I remember to focus myself daily on the reality of the gospel…of Christ’s beautiful offering…of the ABUNDANT life we have in Him.  May I NEVER complain about the petty hindrances of my life.  May I rejoice that I get to share in sufferings with Him…because of his name.  May I not forget my brothers and sisters around the world who fellowship in sufferings daily…some becoming like Him in his death.