Remember!
How can we call others to a God whom we ourselves do not love and honor?
That's the thought that's been rolling around in my mind lately. And so, this line of the ancient Akkadian story Atra-hasis jumped out at me: "He spoke [with his god] And his god [spoke] with him." (original: itamu itti ilishu / u suu ilshu ittishu itamu) -Atra-hasis by Lambert and Millard (1969) p 66-67.
Could I say the same about my relationship with God?
By email, a friend kindly shared her praise and thanks to God. It was so refreshing to share these reflections on God's goodness! Another two Christians from my church have written to tell me that they are praying for me and share with me the requests that they brought before the throne of grace. What a wonderful blessing it is to be prayed for - I surely need the prayers of the saints to sustain me in this pilgrimage! As one pastor from New England said, the love of brothers and sisters in Christ are the arms of God which embrace us.
Fun times of cake building, sad times during the memorial lecture, tiring times full of chores, exciting times of Bible study, curious times of Hebrew study - all seem to be challenging me to consider where God is in my thoughts (Psalm 10:4). I realized a few days ago that I continuously pour into my calendar and to-do list while neglecting to spend time reflecting on what God has completed in my life and through my life.
So, with all that in mind, I began to assemble a new notebook. I want it to be a means by which I can carry on my conversation with God through each day, and so I carry it around with a set of colorful pens handy. What's inside the notebook?
. old livejournal entries and emails "that [I] may proclaim the praises of Him who called [me] out of darkness into His marvelous light" 1 Peter 2:9b.
. Scripture that I want to memorized and have memorized
. questions I'm wrestling with
. requests for God
. Scriptures that I'm studying
. reminders of related passages on certain topics such as trust/fear (Numbers 14, Deut 1, 2 Kings 18-19, 2 Chronicles 32, Isaiah 37, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:16-22, Proverbs 3:5-8)
. Hebrew vocabulary
. thanksgiving to God
. idea maps
. pleas to God for help
. sticky notes with random thoughts
. passages and teachings from my morning Scripture readings that particularly catch my attention (Deuteronomy 4:32-39)
. lists of God's work and Scriptures that were made and fulfilled in the Old Testament (promise of Cyrus in Isaiah 45, promise to Abraham in Genesis 12, promise of the Chaldean conquest of Jerusalem in Habakkuk 1...)
. musings on the strangeness of the salvation of men who have offended God
. musings on the offensiveness of sin and the offensiveness of death
. musings on the resurrection and Jesus' claims in John 7-8
. Jewish Chanukah cards
. etc
May this little notebook become filled with evidences of God's mercy and truth and help me to keep my heart and mind set on my God.
That's the thought that's been rolling around in my mind lately. And so, this line of the ancient Akkadian story Atra-hasis jumped out at me: "He spoke [with his god] And his god [spoke] with him." (original: itamu itti ilishu / u suu ilshu ittishu itamu) -Atra-hasis by Lambert and Millard (1969) p 66-67.
Could I say the same about my relationship with God?
By email, a friend kindly shared her praise and thanks to God. It was so refreshing to share these reflections on God's goodness! Another two Christians from my church have written to tell me that they are praying for me and share with me the requests that they brought before the throne of grace. What a wonderful blessing it is to be prayed for - I surely need the prayers of the saints to sustain me in this pilgrimage! As one pastor from New England said, the love of brothers and sisters in Christ are the arms of God which embrace us.
Fun times of cake building, sad times during the memorial lecture, tiring times full of chores, exciting times of Bible study, curious times of Hebrew study - all seem to be challenging me to consider where God is in my thoughts (Psalm 10:4). I realized a few days ago that I continuously pour into my calendar and to-do list while neglecting to spend time reflecting on what God has completed in my life and through my life.
So, with all that in mind, I began to assemble a new notebook. I want it to be a means by which I can carry on my conversation with God through each day, and so I carry it around with a set of colorful pens handy. What's inside the notebook?
. old livejournal entries and emails "that [I] may proclaim the praises of Him who called [me] out of darkness into His marvelous light" 1 Peter 2:9b.
. Scripture that I want to memorized and have memorized
. questions I'm wrestling with
. requests for God
. Scriptures that I'm studying
. reminders of related passages on certain topics such as trust/fear (Numbers 14, Deut 1, 2 Kings 18-19, 2 Chronicles 32, Isaiah 37, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:16-22, Proverbs 3:5-8)
. Hebrew vocabulary
. thanksgiving to God
. idea maps
. pleas to God for help
. sticky notes with random thoughts
. passages and teachings from my morning Scripture readings that particularly catch my attention (Deuteronomy 4:32-39)
. lists of God's work and Scriptures that were made and fulfilled in the Old Testament (promise of Cyrus in Isaiah 45, promise to Abraham in Genesis 12, promise of the Chaldean conquest of Jerusalem in Habakkuk 1...)
. musings on the strangeness of the salvation of men who have offended God
. musings on the offensiveness of sin and the offensiveness of death
. musings on the resurrection and Jesus' claims in John 7-8
. Jewish Chanukah cards
. etc
May this little notebook become filled with evidences of God's mercy and truth and help me to keep my heart and mind set on my God.