Photography: Cristian V.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Certainly, God takes no pleasure in what is hurtful (Ezek. 33:11), and he is never the author of sin (James 1:13-14; I John 1:5). Yet, for his eternal purposes, he sometimes allows suffering and permits unjust acts by men and women whom he decides not to restrain, even though he has the power to do so… Even when sinful and painful things are happening, God is somehow exercising ultimate control and working things out for his good purposes.

[Taken from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) p. 61]

Food for Thought

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

From war and rumors of wars, to politics and politicians, to road rage and playground rage, it is tempting to bow our heads in despair. Hate is strong. The song of peace is mocked. But even when it sounds as if there is no peace, you and I must remember the deeper, truer song of His word. God is in control. And He is working for his good purposes.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1864

Happy New Year!
+Michael K

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
(Luke 6:41 ESV)

We need each other to see where our blind spot eclipses. Without one another, self-righteousness can flourish and sin will be unchecked.

Christ designed the church so that members are integrated with each other in such a way that we *need* each other to see where we are flawed and how we can grow to be more like the head.

Notice that *everyone* has blind spots. The one who points out yours will most likely have a set of their own. Perhaps the tone of condescension could have been removed. Perhaps the person should have lowered his volume, spoken gently. Maybe the person has a bigger plank than your own!

But nevertheless, the other person’s sins does not justify you to keep yours.

If we lift our head up in pride, rebuff correction, and flee from all criticisms, it’ll be too easy to live with blind spots and never knowing how we can change.

Perhaps we’ll even be haunted with the knowledge of “knowing” we need to change and grow, but we’ll never allow anyone to point out “how”.

Thus, by living blindly, we’ll deceive ourselves with the sense of false righteousness to the end of our days.

By then, when the Judge finally reveals all that we refused to see, it will be too late to take back the scars we inflicted.

Therefore,… All have their logs to remove.

So,..

• How have you contemplated on the last moment of correction you’ve received?
• What can a loving person do when that person sees clearly your blind spot? Have you stopped and considered that perhaps the person who rebuked you is doing the one act of love you sorely need?
• Have you deeply considered how you can remove the log from your eye? Are you committed to applying what you’ve learned?
• Or is your commitment to Christ too shallow to swallow your pride and gratefully receive correction?

Commit to Christ, seek godly rebuke from brothers & sisters, grow and change by His grace so you can remove the blind spot from your sins.
+MK

Photography: Poet102

“…forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Eph. 4:32

I could see the weariness in his face. “I’m sure both of you are in terrible pain, Rick. But I don’t think divorce is going to end it. You’ll just trade one kind of pain for another. There is a way to keep your marriage together and to truly put the past behind you. But you won’t find it with the empty forgiveness you’ve offered Pam.”

“What do you mean, ‘empty forgiveness’?”

[Taken from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) p. 202]

Food for Thought

Does your forgiveness promise a lot but deliver a little?

“Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” are both in the past, and many of us have gotten a jump on our Christmas shopping. Now that you’ve worked so hard to find a gift for a loved one, would you neglect to actually include it in the box when you give it to him or her?

Empty forgiveness. What if we confessed a serious sin to God and He said, “I forgive you…but I can’t be close to you, ever again?” We’d probably have a very strong reaction to that, countering with something like, “Well, that’s just empty forgiveness!” And it is. It’s not how God acts. But that’s how we act sometimes.

Consider for a moment those times this past year where it looked like you gave the gift of forgiveness; however, once the person opened it, they found the box was empty. For whatever reason(s), you’ve withheld intimacy or friendship, and you’ve just traded one kind of pain for another. As you head into the Christmas season, make sure the gift of forgiveness is more than a bright covering of wrapping and bows with nothing inside. Instead, by God’s grace, make your gifts jam-packed with true forgiveness, modeling the forgiveness that you have received from God in Christ (Eph. 4:32).

I am nothing and I cannot do everything.

We often know so much more than we obey

During the car ride from NYC to DC, we were chatting about how it is often the case for many who has grown a significant understanding of the Bible. When you think about how much you know of God’s Word and compare that to how much of it you actually obey, you see how much we still lack and fail as ambassadors of Christ.

It humbles me to the deepest level.

I sure may proudly proclaim the prince of peace but if true reconciliation and peacemaking is not a priority in my life in all my relationships, then I have failed in every respect as a follower of Christ.

I sure may spend countless hours in devoted times of service & ministry to others and give all my freedoms away but if true love for God & for people is absent in my heart, then I have only succeeded in being a clanging gong.

I sure may read the word of God all I want but if a particular person in my life “causes” me to stumble and sin, then what have I truly got to show that the word of God is in me? People don’t cause me to sin. I cause me to sin.

I sure may say I serve the church for the sake of the Lord of peace but if I do not cultivate peace in my relationships with a pure heart, then I may be lying to myself about my true allegiance.

It doesn’t matter if I can give convincing arguments for the faith if my very life argues against it.

I need to truly live out the knowledge that was given to me.

I sure may not like it. But it does mean that

I need to die to myself and depend on God in order to truly incarnate my Savior in my life.

Consider this.. personally, what does true dependence on the Lord specifically look like, in the light of your knowledge of Scripture?

Thursday, 11/24
-Morning Devo and breakfast with the family. Reminded of 1 Thess & being thankful in everything.
-BASKETBALL! Half-court at the park nearby. We won! =D
-Found Yugioh cards and played with Noel!
-Thanksgiving! Abot-style Met the rest of the family & ate a LOT OF FOOD.
-Played with Gaby & JZ, the most adorable little kids ever!
-Dinner time!
-Black Friday shopping.. this early at Walmart?
-sleepy time! Time to snooze.

Friday, 11/25
-Morning! Time to play Dance Central two!
-Time to commute to new york! 4 hours of driving, here we go!
And now currently in the car, parking & getting ready to explore the rest of the city! =D

Sensibility is the overarching quality that a young man must exhibit.

How often I hear those words and fail to heed it.

The other day, a man muttered in front of me, “he’ll grow up one day.”
Another time ago, a woman commented on my overreaction as an occurrence that needs to stop.

Whether these were said out of jest or spite, I cannot say. Nevertheless, words are something that I remember too well and carry with me in my heart.

I make a good practice out of dramatizing things, but in the end, is that the most sensible thing for me to do?

For better or worse, the near silent mutterings and comments are what echoes forth and bring new challenges to my heart.

Therefore,
this verse and the principality of sensibility surface in my mind:

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

If a person’s outward expression of joy is enough to stumble another, what good is that expression of joy? And one must consider, was it truly joy that had been expressed or was it something else, if that joy be marred by the fear of others?

Photocredit to alibubba

When you are sick, everything tastes bland.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
(2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV)

+Michael K