time to blog.

no, not like this is the time of the day to blog, i just have plenty of time to do so, because i am unemployed. no no I'm not throwing a pity party, i like it to be honest. well, i would like it if i didn't have to pay bills, but its not bad. i am trying to strike a balance between my incessant need to be active and productive with God's constant desire for me to wait and slow down.

hmmm how to explain?

OK let me try this. last night i was reading some piper, and regardless of what you may think about him, he is spot on with most of his writing, Future Grace being no exception. He writes that we need to accept Gods "yes" to us through his son and his sacrifice for us. For example, God has the best for us, the plan for us, and all our worries are shown to mean nothing when we see the promises of God through his Son (if nothing else Matthew 6 tells us not to worry right?). So in our lives and ESPECIALLY in prayer we need to acknowledge this and accept what he has given to us. In a lot of ways i have, but, prayer, as i am learning can be a more specific and straightforward way to see the promises of God with our futures. because see if we claim his promises in our prayer we see that God does and will provide all things we need. I will also add that in no way do i condone the prosperity gospel of today; not what i am getting at. God's promises are about an abundant life in submission to him, not the fulfilment of what we THINK we need, like some people who preach in stadiums and tell you to test the Lord your God. not mentioning any names.

now; i realise many of you know this and are wondering why its such a big deal to me. WELL ITS NOT EASY FOR ME SO BACK OFF! ha, just kidding. some days its easy some days its not. However, as i apply for jobs and look for my future path here in a new place, i wonder. What will my role be in this new city? Last night i was lying in bed praying for you all and the people i love, and i prayed the same prayer before i moved to Maui, "use me."

so why not look to Paul for inspiration right? last night i read Colossians, look at this

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

OK now i know this is a lot for one post, but bear with me. Paul is talking about his suffering for the church here. Now he is not saying something is lacking with Christs sacrifice, obviously, he is saying that something is lacking in the future suffering of those who believe in Christ, he is saying he is going through that suffering to build faith, something that seemingly was lacking from the church in Colossae. BUT, that's not what i wanted to focus on and what i loved when i read this last night.

Paul, through Gods grace is making known the mystery of Christ to all, including Gentiles, Christ in us, the Hope of Glory (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V0rgrt1nTM&feature=related). This is what i want... i want people to know they are saints and that through teaching of the wisdom of GOD (not me), that all can be presented as mature before Christ. So i will toil and do whatever it takes for the Hope of HIS Glory, whether on this earth or the next.

So be encouraged if you read this. all 6 of you. haha. Christ is in you and you can have the Hope of Living in His Glory, and live in a desire of that future grace which God desires to bestow upon you. even if we suffer and toil, he has made is promises known to us, so lets accept Gods "yes" to us through the promises of His Son.

Love you all, thanks for the prayers and even though I don't have a job teaching you cant stop me from doing it!