This morning, I was reading Mark 14, and was particularly moved by the scene in the garden where Jesus is praying, "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
How many times have I prayed "take this cup" when faced with a trial? (and usually the trial is a situation of my own creation) But Jesus, when faced with the worst possible fate-the wrath of God against all the sin of mankind-is able to say "not my will, but your will" because he loved us that much.
Constance was very timid around the ocean at first. She liked digging in the sand, but the surf coming at her was a little troubling. The first couple of days she spend a lot of time running from it and "clucking" her tongue at it, which is something she does when she is scared or upset. It was much better to have Eleanor fetch her water in a bucket and pour it on herself than to get near the waves herself.
She liked watching her brother and sisters on their boogie boards in the waves. And since she thinks she's as big as they are, and anything they can do, she can do...
but then again maybe not.
But finally, the day before we left, she got wet. Once we finally stopped trying to convince her to get in the water and just left her alone, she got brave enough to let it touch her and discovered that the ocean is, in fact, quite enjoyable.
And since the ocean was not scary anymore, she thought she'd give surfing a try. No kidding.
As you can see in the following video, I was not initially convinced that putting an eighteen-month-old on a boogie board in the Atlantic Ocean was good parenting.
I have to say, however, that after I watched her ride the surf over and over and over again, it may not have been good parenting, but it sure was cute !
My brave little surfer girl.
Alas, all good things must come to an end, and when it was finally time to put the boogie board away and go inside, surfer girl was heartbroken.
This morning I read "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Matthew 8:38
It can be hard to live a life set apart for Christ, and to feel the scorn of others when we take a stand for what we know is true and good. But we should not be ashamed or embarrassed. On the contrary, we should be bold in declaring Christ in our words and our actions.
I began in Mark this evening. I'm also still reading two chapters a day in Genesis, but find that my NT readings usually inspire me more. In the first chapter of Mark, it talks about how the demons recognized and obeyed Jesus. I think this is such a great example of Jesus' sovereignty. He is Lord of ALL. Not just those who willingly submit to his authority, but every part of creation is subject to him. We have free will, and can disobey because he allows us that freedom--for now. Some day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess Him as Lord.
I finished reading the book of Matthew this evening. There, at the very end of the last chapter is the Great Commission: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
That's what we're supposed to do. Go. Make disciples.
I was reading in Matthew today, and in chapters 24 & 25, Jesus is talking about the end times. I confess to being totally confused on this matter. I really don't know what it all means. It certainly seems like these could be those days, but every generation has thought they were living in the end times. I like this verse: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." Matthew 24:35
Maybe it's now. Maybe he was talking about the persecution of the early church and it already happened. Maybe it won't happen for another thousand years. I don't know, but that hardly matters. We should live every day here on earth for Him like it is our last (because it may be) This is temporary--He is eternal!
I am still reading in Genesis and Matthew. Tonight I read in Matthew 23 where Jesus rages against the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They had the outward appearance of righteousness, but their hearts were wicked and proud. Jesus called them "sons of hell" and "whitewashed tombs."
I do not want to look like a Christian. I want to be a Christian--a disciple of Christ--for real.
