revealed by fire

in my move, i've been sorting through a lot of stuff. having a woodburner makes it easier to dispose of a lot of it... old papers, junk mail, etc. etc. i'm kind of a packrat.

well, last night i was making a lot of progress, but as i was burning an old birthday card... the moment really struck me and 1 corinthians 3:13 came rushing to my head. "each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." how fleeting this life is. how much i treasure and hold onto stuff that is all doomed to fire.

Lord, help me to keep my mind on eternity and eternal things. Help me to treasure what truly lasts!

david crowder

i am full of earth, You are heaven’s worth
i am stained with dirt, prone to depravity
You are everything that is bright and clean
the antonym of me, You are divinity
but a certain sign of grace is this
from a broken earth flowers come up
pushing through the dirt

well, the random gardener ring is coming to a close... right where it began... david crowder. (did you know that was what was playing in my head as i thought through all of these thoughts? haha sistrina, it was right there all along, maybe you didn't realize it...)

(yes, i do use the ellipses too much)

grace.
beauty that rises from dirt.
God's work.
happening even when i can't see it.

but the harder i try, the more clearly can i
feel the depth of our fall and the weight of it all.
and so this might be could be
the most impossible thing;
Your grandness in me, making me clean.
glory, hallelujah! glory, glory, hallelujah!

God, help me to always remember that YOU are in control. remind me of perspective.

glory, hallelujah - He is working out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will!

sowing and reaping

so yeah, i've been collecting acorns from all over this fall... the idea being to plant them so that oak trees might be produced... why oaks? well, they're slow growing and long lasting... a tough tree. (with some significance being in planting something that will outlast me) why acorns? well, duh, cause that's where oaks come from... and hence the point:

"do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked, a man reaps what he sows." galatians 6:7

just thinking about what results i want to see from my life - what God wants to see from my life... whatever i may WANT to see - it will wind up being a result of what i do... it takes time and intentionality... small first steps for big results... (related cool quote: "when saturated by the Word, more surely will our prayers be heard." - only way to saturate is through being in it!!!)

oh yeah, and i'd probably better check about getting the bags of acorns out of mom's fridge soon - cause they've been there more than a month!!!