This is a great instrumental christmas cd that i’ve listened to for years as the soundtrack to wrapping gifts or drinking hot chocolate.
ok i said this post isn’t about Christmas, and i isn’t… so………
How strong are you? how trustworthy are you?…am I?
A question worth asking lately, and one that God seems to be not letting me skirt.
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)
how many times this week… today, have i not allowed God to show himself strong because i wanted to strive hard enough.
Or… when i failed did i give up and hide and not allow God to rescue me and be the hero.
is it possible that i even have the ability to stop God from glorifying himself? no, not really… but it’s possible for me to miss out, to stop him from glorifying himself in my own life. (at least for a time)
How much of God am i missing out on in these moments? usually in moments of trying to do and striving for him? how ironic and sad.
but i don’t think God would have me defeated and without confidence, constantly saying “well i can’t, i’m just weak, or man” or “i’m just going to fail again”
no he wants me to have the confidence and victory and joy in saying “well i can’t and i’m weak and i’m going to fail again…. But the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
one thought that confuses me is the struggle about how elementary and how “gospel” this is… Haven’t i been walking with and serving and growing in relationship God for almost a decade? but then… we never ever “graduate” from the Gospel of Jesus Christ do we? In Paul’s letters it is so evident. In the first 2 chapters of the letter to the church in Colosse Paul reclaims, reexplains the gospel at least 7 times fully and more than that in short reference.
God help me to “win myself to the cross of Christ every day” as C.H. Spurgeon says it. God help you too. Especially in this season that is so often distracting and overwhelming.
Fellongrace 
this post just smacked me in the face. thanks a lot. ; )