Recently I have had the opportunity to sit in on some court hearings ... each time I see how faulty the world's court system is and over and over again I rejoice that I serve a God who does not judge according to man's standards. I serve a God who is perfectly just and perfectly true in every aspect of life.

Psalm 9 talks about this "side" of God:

• When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. (Psa 9:3-4)

• But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. (Psa 9:7-12)

As I dwell on these words I cannot help but agree with the Psalmist David's opening words in this psalm ...

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. (Psa 9:1-2)

God is on the side of the oppressed ... they are not alone! God will fight for them - when they call on Him, when they put their trust in Him.

But what if they don't know? It's you and my responsibility to tell them ... this is my personal challenge! When they feel alone and like no one is there for them, God IS!! But, He give us the responsibility to tell them ...

The more you love, the more you grieve when that person is gone.
The deeper your relationships, the more you open yourself up for hurt.

... just some thoughts running through my head.

Christ ... our example.

Servant-hood: devoted to another tot he disregard of one's own interests.

Matthew 20:27-28 - Jesus sets the example ...
"And whoever wants to be first must become your slave. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." (NLT)

This is such a hard thing to do ... I know first hand because it is one of the hardest things for me to do. Serving does not come easily for me, in fact it's the hardest thing for me. But this is a calling for each of us as believers ... its a hard but possible through His power.

Community ... do we need it?

"Beneath what our culture calls psychological disorder is a soul crying out for what only community can provide ... the problem beneath our problems is a disconnected soul ... the greatest need in modern civilization is the development of communities - true communities where the heart of God is home, where the humble and wise learn to shepherd those on the path behind them, where the trusting strugglers lock arms with others as together they journey on." ~ Larry Crabb

Right now I am reading the book ... "I will build my church & the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" written by Val Yoder.

Community ... is this something that we as Anabaptists are losing? What has gone wrong? Somehow the Amish have kept a close knit community that I see is slipping out of our fingers as we "progress" and "move on" or should I say ... are we becoming so thinly spread out that we are too busy to interact with our fellow believers, like the early church did in Acts 2:42 - true fellowship ... more than just Sunday morning.

Just some questions I'm wrestling with ...

Waiting ... what does it mean??

currently reading: "Intercessory Prayer" by: Dutch Sheets

An excerpt from the book that spoke to me. His study of the word wait in the O.T. - three of the meanings summed up in one sentence ...

"Silently waiting with a strong, calm trust, longing for His presence and eagerly expecting Him - for you know He'll show up - anticipating and then experiencing the oneness that results as your hearts become entwined." Hallelujah!!! - Dutch Sheets

I am so glad that my God is faithful, that I can calmly trust Him, because I know that He will show up, because of His faithfulness in the past!! What a promise to claim!

God is RICH IN MERCY ...

Last night as I was finishing up work the lady I work for asked me ... what is the meaning of mercy? This question got me thinking ... and this is what I came up with.

After pointing out to the Ephesians what they were before Christ, Paul writes to them these encouraging words...

But God, being rich in mercy (eleos: this Greek word denotes action, not based on feeling alone), because of the great love (agape: the love that chooses to love) with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV)

The greatest act of mercy was God sending His Son ... He not only had compassion for mankind, He acted on his compassion.

Paul writes to the Romans ...
For He said to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will pity whomever I will pity." (Ex. 33:19) So, then, it is not of the one willing, nor of the one running, but of the One showing mercy, of God.
Romans 9:15-16 (LITV)

God has given His mercy to us ... He has a genuine heartfelt compassion for our well-being, and He chose to exercise His feelings for us and ACT, by sending His Son.

What a wonderful thought. Because of God's mercy for me, out of His love, Jesus died. But the story does not end there! He Lives, He conquered death and the grave! Praise God, Hallelujah! He is Risen!

May you feel His Love this Resurrection season!

The war fought within ...

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? James 4:1 ESV

I saw this earlier this evening, the "old man" fighting the ways of the Lord. It's a struggle. It's never a fun struggle, every ounce of your energy is spent in defiance, you are miserable.

How often am I like this? When I make choices how many times do I drag my feet, stomp them, or just stop in my tracks? Much like the child that wants their own way and will do everything, even go as far as to make themselves miserable, just to get their "own way".

My passions, or what I think is right, war within me. Isn't this what causes contention? The strife that was unnecessary to begin with?

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days ...
Deut. 30:19-20a

I am striving to choose life, to go against the "passions that war within", it's an uphill battle. But I have the victory through Him, my risen LORD, Yahweh, Messiah, The Christ. I will not give up, though the going is tough, through the grace of God I will carry on ... may He grant me the strength I need.